South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-04
SIMPLELTF NOT
PRACTICED AMONG
BARBARIG TRIBES
Customs cf Aboriginal Rhode
slams More Complex Than
Those of Civilization.

WASHINGTON. .. G. Nov. g.
He who complains Of the complex
tiles OF civilization. or Of the rapid
changes in styles. or OF the multi
pIfcatiOn OF laws and ordinances.
and believes that the simple life is
practiced among primitive tribes.
VIII have a rude awakening IL he
examines the customs OF the abor-
iginial Rhodeslans." says q bulletin
from the National Geographic So
ciety. relating 20 the South African
people who are reported moving
back 20 their reserves to preserve
their native Institutions
Southern Rhodesia has some 40
600 Europeans among its three
quarters Of a million people and
these whites may be considered
bona fde colonists I'm land settling
down after a somewhat disappoint-
ing gold boom 20 regular operations
Of agriculture and mining.
Laboratory for Tribal study.
But northern Rhodesia still is
the happy hunting ground for the
human geographer; where he may
study the effects Of a plateau region
upon remote tribes that have been
little affected by the enCrOachments
Of the white man. Here nearly a
million natives inhabit an area
greater than Texas where fewer
than 5000 Europeans have estab-
iished themselves.
The illusion that all savage peo-
pies do pretty much as they please
alton OF "A legal system that has pen
alties Of mutilation for minor Of
lenses, whose judges must fold
their hands In a certain way when
they try cases. and where every ma
tive male inevitably becomes some
thing Of a lawyer since the daily
public trials furnish village diver
tisements.
"MOther-in-Law" HOnored
"The quips &C woman's extrava-
gance in dress. and the variability
OF modes, which often provide the
inevitable topical song at Ameri-
can musical shows find their proto-
types In the minstrelsy Of a Wemba
swain whose metrical plant is. o
Woman, you are like a greedy wag-
TAIL pecking up all you can get
But a 'mother-in-l law joke in this
tribe would result disastrously for
its perpetrator. So great is the rev
erence shown this relative that a
husband must step aside out Of the
path IL he meets her abroad. Should
he come upon her unawares he
must bow his head, cast his eyes
upon the ground, and not dare look
at her. Nor may he address her at
all until after his first child Is
born.
Women anoint their bodies with
castor oil, they whiten their faces
with chalk at new moon time, but
the variety of ways they dress their
hair also is a subject for native hui
NOR. Defamation Of their teeth
forms another adornment. but the
practice which their husbands com
plain about is their penchant for
acquiring rings and bracelets The
latter range from bands of copper
20 spirals Of metal that reach from
wrist TO elbow, and similar devices
used as anklets.
Temperate Climate.
With the ever increasing over
flow OF civilized populations. North
ern Rhodesia soon may be pre-
empted by colonists. Indeed the
movement OF natives back to re.
serves may indicate that such an in
flow already Is taking place. Though
it lies across the equator the Rho
desian plateau is adapted 10 tn,
white man by reason of a climat,
that has no extremes. Moreover il.
boom cities OF Buluwayo and Sails
bury possess hotels, clubs. business
houses and apartments. built in tn,
flush Of hope that it would be a sec
ond Rand, then deserted by the for
tune hunters, and now awaiting tn,
coming OF a more sober and sus
tanned development.
Much Of northern Rhodesia il
suitable for farming; there are vas
tracts of grazing land. Maize and to
bacco are at present the principa
crops. Wheat. cotton and citrus
fruits may be grown successfully
The timber awaits transportation
facilities. Gold. copper. zinc ant
lead mines already are worked"