Click to download PDF version: 3.87MB - Global Grey

48 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
The smallest measure that I know of is what the natives call XITINI, that is from the tip
of the middle finger to the bottom of its joint or its root in the palm of the hand. It
measures two nails or 41/2 inches, and is used in measuring tobacco, long strings of
which are cut up into these BITINI. The value of the XITINI of tobacco was 36 BILABU or
beads, two Bitini make one MBOKANA (palm) and two MBOKANA make one LUBONGO
ZIFULA (or a piece or native grass cloth measuring 18 inches or a cubit). Its value being
144 beads.
2 ZIMBONGO= I MAKABA or yard.
2 MAKABA = I NTAMA or fathom, and this may be said to be their standard measure.
Three NTAMA (or 12 mats in one bundle)=one MBONDO, while four MBONDO=One
NLELE BIFUNZI (or 48 mats) or the bundle that a man is expected to contribute towards
any of his wife's near relations' funeral expenses. These mats are sewn together also for
the purpose of shrouds, thus six mats make a SAMBANO, complete cloth, four of which
are sewn together to look as if there were only three to make a shroud, That is to say,
two are first sewn together, then two more, and one of the latter is allowed to fall on one
of the former just to cover it and then sewn that way, so that one complete shroud is
composed Of 24 pieces or ZIMBONGO ZIFULA.
The King is first wrapped in one shroud (24 cubits). After an interval when his body has
been dried, he is wrapped in three shrouds (72 cubits), and finally, just before burial in
six shrouds, or 144 cubits. The NLELE BIFUNZI is valued at 7,200 beads.
120 Beads= 1 LOMBi or string.
1,400 " or 12 MILOMBI = 1 XIKO or a bunch (50).
14,400 " or 10 BIKO = 1 NSUKU or KAMA 400.
144,000 " or 10 MISUKU = 1 XIVIEVE (1000).
In the olden days cottons were sent out in accordance with the demand of the natives in
pieces 24 yards long doubled in 24 laps or 12 folds. In 1880 the length was 20 yards, in
1883 it went down to 18 yards, and latterly, when the trader was obliged to pay import
dues and taxes to the different Governments, the length quickly fell to eight yards.
In the same way the Germans sent out strings of only 100 beads (believing in the
superiority of the decimal system) until at last the natives refused to receive them in
exchange for ivory.
The sun and moon are the great time markers of the Bavili, the heavens their mighty
clock.
They divide the night and day into 12 periods of two hours each. They call this period
LO or rather XELO a cutting (plural BILO).
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. they call XELO XITOMBE XITOMBE or the little darkness.
" 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. they call XELO XITOMBE darkness.
" 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. XELO KATA XIBWICI.
" 12 a.m. to 2 a. m. MIXELO-XELO the little cuttings.
www.globalgrey.co.uk