Lesotho -- Social life and customs; Sotho (African people)
There is considerable jealousy over the harvesting, it being thought
that the chief has shown great favouritism should one "land" yield a
much better crop than another. To avoid unpleasantness, a man who sees
his crop is larger than his neighbour's will dig a hole in some
unfrequented spot, into which he will put one of the grain baskets, and
at night he and his family will carry their grain to this hiding-place,
carefully removing all traces likely to arouse the suspicions of any
wanderer who might chance to pass by. When the time comes to visit this
secret store for the purpose of removing the grain for the household
use, the visits are paid only at night time, one member of the family
remaining at home to see that the movements of the others are not
observed.
The chief food of the Basuto is a sort of porridge, made either of
Kaffir corn or mealies, and a species of bread made from the white
mealie.
The grain is ground by the women into meal on large, flat, smooth
stones, with small round stones like rollers. The women kneel in front
of the large stone, which they raise into a slanting position, so that
as they grind the meal will fall on the skin laid under the lower end of
the stone. They work the "roller" up and down the flat stone over the
grain with a steady rhythmical motion, accompanying the movement with a
low monotonous chant.
The "Motoho," or porridge, is made by merely stirring the meal into
boiling water over a fire, until it is as thick as a stiff paste. If
salt is procurable a little is added to the water before boiling. They
also make a sour "Motoho," which is regarded as far more of a delicacy
than the ordinary porridge. This is made by mixing extremely coarse meal
with boiling water. Cover this mixture, and place on one side for a few
moments. Pour into this a quantity of luke-warm water, and add a little
"tomoso" (yeast). Leave this to "work" until the next morning, then
remove all the meal, squeezing it as dry as possible, and grind it very
finely; then put back into the same water, stir well, and strain and
cook over a brisk fire, stirring it all the time for nearly an hour. It
is then ready to eat.
The "Bogobe," or bread, is made by pouring mealie meal into a pot of
boiling water. Do not stir or break, and allow it to boil for about half
an hour; then stir it and allow it to cook gently for about half an
hour, then take it out and roll into large balls. Put a small quantity
of water in the bottom of the pot; make a rest of small twigs to prevent
the bread falling into the water, and cook for a long time, probably
about an hour.
Sour bread, or "Bogobe bo bolila," is made by taking coarse mealie meal,
mixing it with cold water and a little yeast. Put this stiff dough out
into the sunshine to rise. When sufficiently risen it is rolled into
flat, round loaves, and cooked in the same manner as the sweet "Bogobe."
Pumpkins are put whole into a pot of boiling water and boiled until
ready.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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