| caption: |
Chapter Two. Feasts Of Merit |
| caption: |
sacrifice of bulls near Netsoho's house |
| text: |
Late in the morning, when all the preparations were complete, small groups streamed towards Netsoho's house. Two choice bulls were tied to the posts of the protruding roof. A man of Netsoho's clan went up to them. He scratched them gently on the forehead, as though to distract their attention from the business in hand. Then, pointing his spear behind the shoulder of one of them, he suddenly drove it home. Stabbed to the heart, the bull plunged forward, moaning horribly. Almost at once the second bull was speared. The meat was quickly and skilfully cut up and distributed, not, as one would suppose, in a haphazard manner, but in strict order of precedence, to the dignitaries of the village. Netsoho received one of the hind legs; it was to be his only meat dish during the next fourteen days, for as long as the ceremonies lasted all other flesh was denied him. |
