[55]. In Chinyanja, Nguli or Nanguli.—[Tr.]
[56]. This is evidently the one called Nsikwa in Chinyanja. See Scott, Cyclopædic Dictionary of the Mang’anja Language, p. 465: “A small top made of a round piece of gourd-shell with a spindle of cane through the middle.” A game is played with the Nsikwa in which the players take sides, and spin their tops so as to knock down bits of maize-cob set up by their adversaries.—[Tr.]
[57]. The articles figured look like bull-roarers, which no doubt might be put to the use indicated, by a native who had seen the telephone at Lindi. But we take leave to doubt their being originally made for such a purpose.—Tr.
[58]. The Rev. Dr. Hetherwick says that masange is “a game played by children in which they build mimic houses and act as grown-up people.” [Tr.]
[59]. The author seems to be mistaken in the distinction drawn between the ngosyo and the “groups.” See note at end of chapter. [Tr.]
[60]. Miraji, plural of mlaji, a form interchangeable with mlasi. [Tr.]
[61]. Rice in Makua is mvuka or moka; the word in the text may be a corrupt form intermediate between this and the Yao mpunga.
[62]. See, inter alia, Mr. R. T. Dennett’s At the Back of the Black Man’s Mind, pp. 38, 68–70. [Tr.]
[63]. The same thing is done by Mang’anja girls on the Shire, in order to make them articulate clearly. The pebbles used for the purpose are taken from the stomachs of crocodiles, which sometimes contain enough to fill a bucket. (MS. note made at Blantyre, August 30th, 1894.)—[Tr.]
[64]. See note at end of chapter.—[Tr.]