The Kusasis-A Short Histroy (2)

16.
C H 4 PTE R
ii.
CULTURE AJ.W SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.
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The
Kusaais are essentially an agricultural
people with early and late millet and guinea - corn as
their staple toods.
They possess individual herds ot
cattle , sheep and goats, but they neither drink milk nor
do they eat much meat. The animals have a grea.t .
. ~trlns1c value, however, as a medium of exohange in the
marriage market, and they are regarded as. a desirable
investment by everybody who has the means with which to
purchase them.
In the Agolle halt ot the oountry, the Kusasis. do not
usually rear the cattle themselves.
They give them out
to Fulani herde,men who tend then with intinite oare and
kraal then at night near their oompounds, reoeiving as
their reward all milk produoed by the oows under their
charge.
Aoross the ,/hi te Volta in Toendema, however, the
Kusasis e.s -a rule preter to look after their own beasts,
and Fulanis are tew in number.
Here the oattle arl) kept
inside the oompounds at night and during the day they are
left to forage nearby for food by themselves.