DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0369
THE WAYAO OF NYASALAND
353
Chipiligo: (ku-piliga, to roll round), a bracelet made of beads wound on a bark-cloth
core.
Chipa: the same, but the beads cover a double core so that the bracelet is wider.
Msaku: a circular hollow cylinder of beadwork which lies flat as a bracelet.
Necklaces are much prized by the women. All the children, too, if possible, are provided
with some kind or another, even though it be only a piece of string. They are generally
made of beads; charms and their ornamental imitations are also worn as necklaces. Some
names refer to the pattern of the beadwork, others refer to the length or fashion of the neck-
lace.
Chikupa is a necklace which hangs down in front to the level of the breasts; it does not
go under the arms, as Hetherwick states.1 It consists of three, four, or five strings of beads
in rows, arranged in a pattern.
Anguyeje: hangs down as far as the ankles. The word Anguyeje means “ chase me! ”
Chinganga is made of a single string of beads, but hangs as low as chikupa. Chikupa
is of more than one string and various colored beads enter into its composition, often in
litawala pattern.
Chipote: consists of a single string of beads of one color tied tightly round the neck
without tassel or bunch.
Chikansauka is worn like chinganga, but beads of more than one color are used.
Chitemangu resembles chikupa, only more strings of beads are used.
Mapunda: a solid cord of bark cloth covered with beads of one color, either dark blue
or white, worn round the neck crossing on the chest and under the armpits; the cords are
as thick as the finger. These are worn especially by girls after Chiputu.
Chimwembe: a cord of beads as in mapunda, but worn round the neck only. The neck-
lace consists of perhaps six strings of beads, the first of which is worn close to the neck,
while each succeeding string hangs lower and more loosely.
Chigoti or chikolija: made of three plaited strands of beads, generally white.
Nkokoliko: a necklace with a tassel, usually consisting of two large red beads.
Mlalu (“ a striped snake ”): made of four strings of beads, each row being of one color.
Mchila wekoswe (“ the rat’s tail ”): like mlalu consisting of two, three or four strings
of beads.
Chuma cha msaku {msaku, 11 bag ”): a hollow cylinder of bead work usually of blue and
white, worn as a necklace. Chuma is the Chiyao word for beads; in Chinyanja, it means
wealth.
Litawala is a word referring to the pattern of the beadwork, so called from the resem-
blance to the eyes of the cane-rat; in litawala, white beads are arranged in rosettes round
a series of larger black beads in a band.
Most women and many children wear beads round the waist. They are supposed to be
very attractive to men. The prostitute wears more than anyone else, for the same reason
1 Op. cit., p. 117.
353
Chipiligo: (ku-piliga, to roll round), a bracelet made of beads wound on a bark-cloth
core.
Chipa: the same, but the beads cover a double core so that the bracelet is wider.
Msaku: a circular hollow cylinder of beadwork which lies flat as a bracelet.
Necklaces are much prized by the women. All the children, too, if possible, are provided
with some kind or another, even though it be only a piece of string. They are generally
made of beads; charms and their ornamental imitations are also worn as necklaces. Some
names refer to the pattern of the beadwork, others refer to the length or fashion of the neck-
lace.
Chikupa is a necklace which hangs down in front to the level of the breasts; it does not
go under the arms, as Hetherwick states.1 It consists of three, four, or five strings of beads
in rows, arranged in a pattern.
Anguyeje: hangs down as far as the ankles. The word Anguyeje means “ chase me! ”
Chinganga is made of a single string of beads, but hangs as low as chikupa. Chikupa
is of more than one string and various colored beads enter into its composition, often in
litawala pattern.
Chipote: consists of a single string of beads of one color tied tightly round the neck
without tassel or bunch.
Chikansauka is worn like chinganga, but beads of more than one color are used.
Chitemangu resembles chikupa, only more strings of beads are used.
Mapunda: a solid cord of bark cloth covered with beads of one color, either dark blue
or white, worn round the neck crossing on the chest and under the armpits; the cords are
as thick as the finger. These are worn especially by girls after Chiputu.
Chimwembe: a cord of beads as in mapunda, but worn round the neck only. The neck-
lace consists of perhaps six strings of beads, the first of which is worn close to the neck,
while each succeeding string hangs lower and more loosely.
Chigoti or chikolija: made of three plaited strands of beads, generally white.
Nkokoliko: a necklace with a tassel, usually consisting of two large red beads.
Mlalu (“ a striped snake ”): made of four strings of beads, each row being of one color.
Mchila wekoswe (“ the rat’s tail ”): like mlalu consisting of two, three or four strings
of beads.
Chuma cha msaku {msaku, 11 bag ”): a hollow cylinder of bead work usually of blue and
white, worn as a necklace. Chuma is the Chiyao word for beads; in Chinyanja, it means
wealth.
Litawala is a word referring to the pattern of the beadwork, so called from the resem-
blance to the eyes of the cane-rat; in litawala, white beads are arranged in rosettes round
a series of larger black beads in a band.
Most women and many children wear beads round the waist. They are supposed to be
very attractive to men. The prostitute wears more than anyone else, for the same reason
1 Op. cit., p. 117.