Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Early the next morning, at the home of Mma-Millipede, bedlam reigned. The women of the village were there, and two goats, slaughtered and skinned, hung up by the feet from a tree to drain off the excess blood. Until the blood flowed down to a trickle, there was nothing much for the women to do except stand as close to each other as possible and create the most ear-splitting din. This whole process is sometimes known as talking, but it has been said that it is only Basotho women who outmatch Batswana women at this art; that is, you stand about a foot away from your companion, heave up your chest, puff up the side veins of the neck and then let all you have inside you come out, full blast. Somehow you laugh at the same time, and unusual this sound is too, as though all the glass in the world were being hurled into a deep pit and shrieking in agony. This noise attracted all the goats in the village to the home of Mma-Millipede, for they knew from long experience that it was the signal for a thousand potato peels to fall on the ground. They added to the din by fighting, pushing and bleating for the best positions. And, of course, Botswana is one of the greatest tea-drinking countries in the world, so that the clatter of over a hundred teacups added the final touch to the shattering symphony. 5 10 15 Everyone had brought along a little something to put into the pot. Mostly it was potatoes, and these little gifts were tied up in gay blue, red and yellow checkered cloths and hung from the waists of the women, and these checkered splashes of colour swayed about as they talked. At a sign from Paulina, an abrupt and deathly silence fell on the gathering. A few women moved forward and sliced out the hard fat that had surrounded the intestines of the animals and which, when heated, melted down into oil. This fat was divided into equal portions and placed in two large iron pots which stood near the fire. On top of this fat they poured small packets of curry powder. Another group of women advanced on the slaughtered goats and, within a short space of time, sliced away all the meat, leaving behind the bony skeleton. The meat, fat, and curry powder then boiled away in big pots. Everyone moved over to small wooden tables, on the top of each of which was placed a basin containing water; and then, with strained, absorbed faces, the women peeled the potatoes, tossing them one by one into the basins. Even the goats quieted down, absorbed in munching the peels with their small dainty mouths. 20 25 30 35 A shrill high-pitched voice, the owner of which was carefully submerged in the group, broke the silence. 'I am wondering about the foreigner who has recently come to the farm,' it said. Since everyone had been wondering too, everyone kept quiet. 'Who knows if he is married?' the shrill voice persisted. 'Why don't you direct your questions to Paulina Sebeso?' a voice at the farthest end of the crowd shouted, and then, with a hint of sarcasm, added, 'After all, she's the big brains around here.' 40 Everyone turned and stared at Paulina, and she had caught the slight edge of sarcasm and was angry yet remained calm. 'I know nothing,' she said, in a deliberately flat voice. 'But you have eyes, Paulina Sebeso,' the sarcastic one continued, 'You must have noticed that the foreigner is very handsome.' 45 Paulina turned and stared at her tormentor. The owner of the sarcastic voice was Grace Sebina, a rough, wild, promiscuous woman. They had been at loggerheads for some time. 50 'If your eyes chase all the men, Grace Sebina,' she said crisply, 'please don't put them on me.' All the women stared at each other in shock. It wasn't polite to call a prostitute a prostitute in black and white terms. 'You don't have to be so rude, Paulina Sebeso,' one of the older women said, reprovingly. ‘Grace Sebina is portraying our own thoughts. We all think the foreigner is handsome. We only want to know if you think the same.' 55