ABSTRACT
A study of Matapato society is necessarily a study of the ritual process associated with ageing, for this provides the major dimension of their system. Within this process, their collective ceremonies are the nodes in what is otherwise a largely dispersed existence. At these ceremonies, the meat feast is the one event that is guaranteed to draw a crowd and promote an awareness of the occasion. Meat feasting is avidly discussed both in its major principles and with a loving attention to detail, and even in times of hunger. The basic structure of any meat feast is most clear when an ox is slaughtered for its meat in a time of need. The meat feast probably more than any other activity brings every sector of Matapato society together, and this careful balance in the allocation of cuts is noted. The meat feast provides a high point of collective life in Matapato.
