44 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



Border Police, all serving with it at the same 

 time. 



At Bulawayo were Mr Colenbrander, represent- 

 ative of the Chartered Company, and Mr Renny 

 Tayleur, the latter trying to obtain a concession from 

 Lobengula. It was in Mr Tayleur's compound that 

 we made our headquarters. 



The dance is a harvest festival. All the fiofhting- 

 members of the nation, forming " Impis " or regi- 

 ments, from the outlying kraals, assemble at 

 Bulawayo to pay homage to the King and take 

 part in the festivities. No woman, or lad not yet 

 entered as a fighting man, dare show up. Old 

 Loben held his court in his kraal, and there was 

 at that time only one wagon in the country ; this 

 was utilised as a sort of forum from which the 

 King received the homage of his subjects. As 

 each "Impi" arrives the chief of it comes forward 

 in a stooping, crouching gait, the left shoulder 

 depressed by the weight of the shield and assegai 

 which he carries. Each man as he approaches 

 chants verses in praise of the King. I was told 

 that on one day during the festival, and on one 

 day only, the women are allowed to sally out, and 

 that every man, woman and child bathes in the 

 river. I did not see this performance, but believe 

 it to be a fact, a custom of ancient origin from the 

 Jews. When the festivities are coming to an end, 



