MAKOKO
Resources
The country of the Andzinziu has a lot of copper mines. Also found there in abundance is sandalwood, both red and grey; the red is called tecula6 and the grey, which is better prized, is known as chicongo.7 The natives grind it into a fragrant powder which they mix with other things to produce a medicament. For instance, when it is mixed with palm oil and rubbed all over the body, the patient feels its beneficial effects.
Industries and
Technologies
The inhabitants of
this country produce palm fabrics in great quantity, in varied styles and
colours. They also produce silk linen.They owe allegiance
to a king who has other princes under his authority. They are very nimble,
bellicose men, quick at taking up arms. They
fight on foot. Their weapons are different from those of all their neighbours:
their bows are small in size and the wood is covered with snake skin of
different colours. The bowstrings are made of a kind of reed
— which are strong
internally as well as flexible and
slender. The arrows are short and slim, made of hard wood: the warriors hold the
bows and arrows in the same hand. They are so fast at shooting the arrows that
with twenty-eight arrows or more in the same hand
that is holding the bow, they are capable of exhausting all the
arrows before the first one touches ground. The Andzindzui
also use other arms: axes that are strangely shaped with the iron part twice as
long as the handle while the lower part of the handle is shaped as a ball to
ensure a better grip. It is entirely covered with snake skin as was seen for the
bows. Secured at the end of the handle, the dazzling iron is attached with two
copper rods, some sort of nails as long as the handle. It has two edges: one
which is shaped in a semi circle and is as sharp as an axe while the other is
shaped like a hammer. Military
Art In combat, when
they have to defend themselves against enemy arrows, the warriors are trained to
very rapidly whirl this weapon, thus forming a kind of circle in the air in
front of them. By so doing, the arrows of their adversaries are stopped and
blocked from their target. Then they place
their axes on the shoulder and begin to shoot their own arrows. They also carry
on their sides, in sheaths made of snake skin, short daggers that resemble
knives. They have different belts: those worn by
warriors are made of elephant skin. They are as much as three inches wide and
two inches thick. Since the skin is very stiff, fire is used to shape these
belts before they are fastened around the bodies
of warriors. Customs and
National Character These men are very
agile and skilful; they bounce up and down the mountain like
goats. They are extremely daring and despise death. They are simple, upright and
sincere.They practise
circumcision; they also have the custom of cutting different marks on
their faces using a knife. This is done from infancy and both the men and women,
the rulers and the ruled are involved. Dressing Source: Obenga