CHAPTER 61
ANCIENT DUTIES FOR BASOGA MEN
The chief duties in which the Basoga mostly derived wealth were:—
1. Growing of food crops which could be sold.
2. Manufacture of bark cloth for sale as well as the preparation of hides for clothing and sale
3. Rearing of cattle and goats
4. Trading in other sorts of trade goods
5. Beating of ant places to produce white ants for consumption and exchange for wealthy goods
6. Hunting of wild animals for eating and exchange for valuable property
7. To fight if there was war
8. To work out metal arms and tools for using during war and at home
9. To prepare wooden tools for use in the home and oars as well as canoes for carrying people across the water
10. To make different kinds of fishing traps or nets and also other handcrafts for use in the home
11. To do fortune—telling or seeing
12. To practise godism or spiritualism
13. To make pottery for everyday use in the home
14. To cast spells on people
15. To fish from lakes and rivers as well as to carry people in canoes
16. To play youth gaimes
17. To drum and dance at parties
18. To erect living and business houses as well as fetish huts
19. To rule the country
20. To steal property and people as well as to murder people
21. To manufacture beer
22. To create fire
ANCIENT DUTIES FOR BASOGA WOMEN
1. To make salt from lakes and rivers for use or sale
2. To grow every kind of food for eating, drinking and selling
3. To prepare any kind of food for eating
4. To look after the homes
5. To gather firewood and to fetch water for preparing food as well as for exchanging for other things.
6. To prepare banana watery tissues for washing and selling
7. To bathe men all over their bodies and to cover them when they go to bed8. To look after all the food and the banana plantations.
9. To assist men when building houses by bringing grass
10. To assist men when preparing beer by bringing grass and water
11. To look after children in every respect
12. To cultivate roads in the village in which they are living
13. Buying or selling articles in the markets
14. To look after all domestic affairs
15. To make water pots and cooking pots as well as earthen bowls
16. To carry passengers in canoes (in the case of Bakenye women)
17. To make beddings
18. To do fishing (in the case of Bakenye women)
19. To dance at parties
20. To practise godism or spiritualism
21. To seer or tell fortunes
22. To look after the sick in all respects
23. To play games
24. To cast spells (if she wanted to do so, after learning from an expert) 25. To cry bitterly for the dead.