The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-05-20
QUEER GREETINGS.
People Who Slap Each other by way OF
Salutation.

SaiutaUlOn,
Among the Uvinza "wlcn two
'grardees' meet the Junior leans for
ward, bends his knees and places the
palms of hts hands on the ground on
each side of his feet, while the senior
claps his own hands six or seven times.
Then they change round, and the junior
slaps himself first under the left arm
pit and then under the right. But
when swell meets an inferior the SUI.
perior only claps his hands and does
not fully return the salutation by fol-
lowing the motions of the one who
first salutes. On two commoners meet
ing, they pat their stomachs, clap hands
at each other, and finally shake" Ii. e.
take) "hands. These greetings are OBJ,
served to an unlimited extent, and the
sound of patting and clapping is almost
unceasing.
Serpa Pinto found this ceremonial
clapping in viol lent exercise among the
Ambuellas. Paul du Chaillu reports the
salute of the Ishogos to be clapping the
hands together and stretching them out
alternately several times,
Among the Walunga in the morning
on every side continuous clapping OF
hands goes on, with the accompaniment
of "Kwi-tata, kwi-tata?" which is their
mode of saying How dye do?" If
chief passes they drop on their knees,
bow their heads to the ground, clap
vigorously and humbly mutter: "Kwi-
tata. kwi-tata?" The clapping distin-
guishes the ceremony from that of mere
prostration.
When the people of Londa wish to be
excessively polite they bring a quantity
of ashes or clay in a piece of skin, and,
taking up handfuls, rub it on the chest
and upper front part Of each arm;
others in saluting drum their ribs with
their elbows; while still others touch
the ground with one cheek after the
other, and clap their hands. The chiefs
go through the semblance of rubbing
the sand on the arms, but only make a
feint of picking it up.
Among the Warna, an inferior in
saluting Il superior takes a piece of
dried mud in his right hand; he first
rubs his own left arm above the elbow
and his left side, then, throwing the
mud into his left hand, he in like
manner rubs the right arm and side, all
the time muttering away inquiries
about his friends health. Each time
the chiefs name is mentioned every
one begins rubbing his breast with
mud
From these notes the elements of the
clapping pantomime may be resolved
into, first, beating or slapping the arms
and upper parts of the breast, some
times rubbing them with mud-these
being ancient modes Of expressing grief
and afterward the noise is simulated
by clapping the hands.
1t is we'll known that many peoples
act both in pantomime and with
speeches to disguise their happiness,
and thereby escape the notice OF
malevolent demons. 1t is also known
that among certain tribes, on the meet
ing of friends who have been long alb.
sent, markedly when they have been
in danger. the welcoming party cash
their arms and breasts so as to draw
blood, which placates the jealous gods
on the joyous occasion. When
the actions become simulated and
symbolic, the claps in the exam.
pies cited may represent the woundine
strokes, and the mud stains initiate
those of blood. When the superstition
has decayed, such actions, and after
ward their stimulation, may be used al
any happy greetings.
1t is not forgotten, however, tha
clapping hands is used for applause ant
rejoicing. as in Ezekiel, XIV, s.
Because thou hast clapped thine
hands, and stamped with the feet ant
rejoiced in heart
But "clap at is used with hiss in Job
xvii, %, and also in Lamentations, ii.
Is, to signify derision. In this respec
the gesture shows the general nature o
gesture signs, which, according to tn
manner of use and the context, can b
applied with many shades of signiti
cance--indeed, by very slight change
can express opposite meanings. 1t isa
least as flexible as oral speech, whicl
gains the same result by collocations o
words and modulations of voice.--N. Y
Journal.