Primary tabs
Transcription
5.
If the tree happens to be of too large a diameter to employ
the preceding method, alternate steps are cut - perhaps
the commonest style, especially if the tree be vertical.
When of comparatively large size, and the tree some-
what bent, they take two or three handfuls of the
de-kan flag-grass, so common here, put ends to roots,
make 2 or 3 twists, and thus form a short rope: they
put this round the trunk, catch hold of each
extremity, and climb upon the upper side,
with successive upward jerks of the arms which
are kept in, while the elbows are kept well back.
If swimming any long distance, they go hand-
over-hand fashion like a dog: when "boyeying" the body
is tilted over laterally, one arm doing the usual
side-stroke, the other lying pretty close to the body,
and moving the forearm somewhat vertically. In
diving any long distance, and to ensure rapidity
of speed, the one arm, instead of the ordinary
side-stroke will be strongly rotated vertically
from behind forwards over the head. In all
cases the lower extremities are markedly
brought into requisition.
2. Astronomy. They divide the year into three
seasons, the bool-loor or cold weather (from about
the end of April to August), the wõ-kâ-rä or time when
the turkeys begin to lay and including the major portion
of the wet season (September to February), and the
Kâ-râ, when the grass is all long, and the yams are
growing (February to April). They thus speak of
such and such a time as being just before the one
or the other. No idea of a year, the smaller divisions
of the month being reckoned up to three or 4 going
or coming. The day is divided thus: mõ-nâ-jï
= early morning, woong-goon = fore-noon, woong-â-rä
= mid-day (judged by the sun being in its highest position),