OF DR. J. R. T. VOGEL. 615 



selves, smeared with the powder of a red wood and their 

 short hair standing upright in little tufts, so that they 

 appear more like horned devils than human beings. In 

 general, however, they prefer what is useful to trifles, pro- 

 vided the latter be not too dazzling and enticing; as for 

 instance, a bright red cap edged with gold. 



" We brought with us a quantity of articles of female 

 dress, often ornamented absurdly enough, as gauze handker- 

 chiefs, sashes, &c, which they accept as presents with suffi- 

 cient indifference, whereas they are very eager after large 

 pocket handkerchiefs, which they wear round the loins. The 

 men are all armed with bows and arrows. They value their 

 arrows very highly, which are strongly poisoned; one of 

 them, however, lately sold me all his implements of war, 

 viz., arrows, quiver and bow, a short wooden arm -plate, a 

 knife and an iron ring, for 2000 cowries, about a dollar and a 

 half, which is -however not above half the original price. All 

 these things are made convenient for use, and strong, but 

 generally without much art. The way they string their bow, 

 which is about four feet long, is clever. In the right hand they 

 hold a knife, with a hollow handle, through which they pass 

 four fingers and the middle of the hand ; on the thumb they 

 have an iron ring, and draw between this and the handle the 

 bowstring, so that they cannot injure the hand. Besides, 

 they are ready, as soon as the arrow is discharged, to use 

 the knife. There is a peculiar custom in the whole of 

 Africa, called " dash." Before a person deals with a stranger, 

 a present is given, called in African English, "dash." As 

 the Africans expect that strangers or Europoeans give far 

 more than they receive, this system is a sort of indirect im- 

 post, and unpleasant to those who are not prepared for it, 

 and I have seen many a silk handkerchief given away in this 

 manner for nothing. The cotton ones, which I had bought, 

 have done me good service in this way 



" The weather has been very pleasant for travelling. The 

 rainy season, which we have had in perfection, bestows at pre- 

 sent only an occasional shower ; I expect therefore that the 



