like a chissel, but with an edge not keener than an ordinary knife.
These bald lines, which might be compared to a path-way mowed
through a field of corn, were sometimes single; and some of these
fashionable young Africans were observed having the whole of the
head scraped bald, excepting a small patch on the top. In the figure
on the left, the lower part of the hair is also scraped away; but
instead of those bare lines, the fancy of the wearer led him to
distinguish himself in a manner which he thought more becoming,
by allowing a tuft of hair at the back of the head, to grow as long as
possible. This latter was a fashion followed also by Mattivi, who, in
addition, Covered the top of his head with a profusion of grease and
sibilo. Some, instead of sibilo, protect their head by a Tchuru or cap
either of fur or plain leather; but as this piece of dress is not common,
there are very few who are not at all times both bareheaded
and barefooted. Some of the young men display their taste by
wearing very large ivory-beads round the ankle.
Many of the chieftains, and others of that class, when not armed,
carry a stick about five feet long and of the same size as the shafts
of their hassagays. This they call a tsdmma *, which implies a
1 walking-stick,’ though it is merely carried in the hand, and never
used as a support or assistance in walking: from being so much
accustomed to the hassagay, they take the tsamma probably with no
other view than to avoid being empty-handed.
The true color of their skin, which is black though considerably
lighter than that of the Guinea negro, is so universally disguised by red
ochre or sibilo, as more fully has been explained on a former occasion
(page 256.), that a Bachapin in his natural color, is a rare sight. It
is in the dry season of the year, that they most adorn themselves
with sibilo, as rain is considered inimical to its beauty; though in
reality this substance is used, but in a somewhat less quantity, at all
seasons.
Several useful articles are carried about them as constant
* The word tsámma means also * to walk Ï 4 to go away ’ or * to depart’
KNIVES. —METALS. 575
appendages, and are always hung round the neck. Of these the tlpa
(teepar) or knife, is the most common and the most indispensable.
The first or uppermost of these figures will convey an idea of the
kind most frequently seen ; the second represents one without its
sheath and with a more ornamented handle; the third is one of the
most handsome, its handle and sheath being carved out of ivory.
The blade, which is made with an edge on both sides, is mere iron:
the Bachapins seemed to be unacquainted with the difference between
that and steel.
Their knowledge of metals is very imperfect; and they were
totally ignorant of their relative value according to the estimation of
civilized nations. The word tsiipi or tsipi (tseepy), used alone,
signifies iron,; tsipi £ kuMlu, literally ‘ red iron,’ expresses copper:
tsipi e tseka, ‘ yellow iron,’ was the name for gold as well as brass; and
silver was called tsipi £ chu (or shu), or ® white iron.’ It seems, therefore,
that the word tsipi may be taken as equivalent to that of ‘ metal.’
The handle and sheath are most commonly of horn or wood
variously carved; the latter part consists of two flat pieces bound together
with sinew: the front piece alone is ornamented. To the hinder