Word: ruandan
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Dates: during 1950-1950
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When one well-to-do Ruandan greets another, he places his hands lightly on his friend's elbows and says: "/ sho, sho, sho, gir inka" (I hope your cows are doing well). The friend replies: "Eeh, eeh" (I hope yours...
...come about because a cow in Ruanda is like a Cadillac in the U.S.-a mark of social distinction. The natives almost never sell or slaughter their cows, in time of famine prefer to die of starvation beside their impassive bovines. Each animal has its own name and every Ruandan dreams of at least two cows in his pasture. The cows are now increasing at the rate of 120,000 a year. They tie up the best land, hamper the natives in raising food crops. "Except the king,"*runs a popular saying, "nothing ranks above...
...present Ruandan ruler, or Mwami, is Mutara III, a gentle giant standing 6 ft. 10 in. He is one of the high-jumping, dance-loving Batutsi, among the tallest men in the world, who have ruled for 300 years over the average-sized Bahutu (94% of the population) and the elephant-hunting pygmy Bambute...
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