New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-12-23

Tense, he declares himself willing to
take poison to prove his innocence.
The poison, which Is derived from
the bark of Il native tree, is usually
ground fine and mixed To IA thick
paste, from which are made five small
l0ayes and these are administered n
after the other to the defendant. Dur
ing the next fifteen minutes, if it is a
case of witchcraft, the byStanders
call on Moloki (the evil principle)
to come out.
The poison usually acts very quick
ly; it may kill the accused or cause
purging or vomiting. The last-named
effect alone is regarded AS IA proof
of Innocence. In the second ease the
prisoner is compelled to dig II hole.
He is then given Il fowl to eat and
enough palm-wine to make him quite
intoxicated. After this he is laid In the
hole, or possibly oes and lays him.
self down, and is then buried alive
In order to prevent Moloki escaping
with his last breath. A large fire
is kept allght on the grave for two
days, and then the body Is exhumed
and eaten.
An innocent man Is carried around
the village, decorated with beads, and
his accuser pays a pig as compensa-
ton for the false charge.
Decorated With Scars.
In color the Bambala are very dark
brown, the hair is absolutely black,
and the eye a greenish black with a
yellow cornea. The face Is not of the
ordinary negro type, but much more
refined; thick lips, for example, are
quite exceptional, and only a small
proportion have fiat noses.
TattOolng Is not common, but both
men and women decorate" them
selves with ornamental cars. They
rise above the surface of the skin
sometimes more than an inch.
The ordinary food consists of manisc
-four made into a paste with water
and boiled. The leaves of the plant
are also eaten prepared with palm
oil and pepper. Animal food Is not
limited to goats. pigs. and other do
nestle small fry, for, frogs excepted,
everything helps to make a stew. from
ants and grasshoppers up to man.
Human flesh Is. OF course, a special
delicacy, and It's use is forbidden to
women, though they do not disdain
to indulge secretly. Other titbits are
a thick white worm found In palm
trees, lOcusts. rats, and blood boiled
with cassaya -four. Human flesh Is
not the only food forbidden to women;
they may not eat goats flesh, hawks,
v%ultures, small birds, snakes. animals
rots. To the rule against flesh killed
with weapons there are two excep-
antelope and a small rat.
Rich people, who indulge In luxurles,
kola nuts in great numbeit A
kind Of native pepper is known, and
oil is obtained from the palm-nut. But
chief condiment Is salt, which Is
made Of the ashes of water plants.
There is, however. a strong preference
the imported salt, which is in
form as a rule, the crys-
tails being perforated and strung on
a string, which Is dipped into the
On a journey salt is eaten ,
as a stimulant and salt water is
also drunk.
As regards animal food, IL there Is
IT is simply boiled and eat I
m with the fingers. 1t must be re- I
rendered hat meat for the Bambala
s simply a bonbon, much as choco-
ates are for us. Once when a white :
raveler killed an elephant. which the 4
were at liberty to consume, 4
Hood, skin, and bones. IL they pleased, :
lfter they had eaten as much as they :
wanted they went to him and asked I
or their dinner. 4
C~annibalism Is an everyday occur
ence, and. according to the natives :
themselves. who display no reticence Z
xcept In the presence Of state officials, Z
/ is based or a sincere liking for =,
flesh :