The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-11-18

Tense, he declares himself willing to
take poison to prove his innocence.
The poison, which Is derived from
the bark Of a native tree, Is usually
ground fine and mixed to a thick
paste, from which are made FIVE small
lOaves and these are administered one
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 a proof
Of innocence. In the second case the
prisoner is compelled to dig a hole.
He is then given a fowl to eat and
enough palm-wine to make him quite
intoxicated. After this he Is laid In the
hole, or possibly goes 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 alight 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 n ~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.
Tattooing Is not common, but both
men and ONE decorate them
selves with ornamental scars. They
rise above the surface Of the skin
sometimes more than an inch.
The ordinary food consists Of manioc
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
n thick white worm found in palm
trees, l~ocusts, rats, and blood boiled
not the only food forbidden to women /;
they may not eat goats flesh, hawks,
vultures, small birds, snakes, animals
hunted with weapons, crows, or par
rots. To the rule against flesh killed
with weapons there are two excep
tions-the antelope and a small rat.
Rich people, who indulge in Injuries,
eat kola nuts in great numbers. A
kind Of native pepper is known, and
oil Is obtained from the palm-nut. But
the chief cOndiment Is salt, which Is
made Of the ashes of water plants.
There is, however. a strong preference
for the imported salt, which is in
crystalline form as q rule. the crys-
tails being perforated and strung on
a string, which Is dipped into the
food-pOt. On a journey salt is eaten
as q stimulant and salt water is
also drunk.
AS regards animal food, IL there is
abundance 1t Is simply boiled and eat
en- with the fingers. 1t must be re-
membered that meat for the Bambala
Is simply a bonbon, much as choco-
latcs are for us. Once when n white
traveller killed an elephant. which the
natives were at liberty to consume,
blood. skin, and bones, II they pleased,
after they Ind eaten as much as they
wanted they went to him and asked
for their dinner.
CanGibalism Is an everyday occur
renee, and, according to the natives
themselves, who display no reticence
except In the presence OF state officials.
II Is based on a sincere liking for
human flesh.