Bahima Natives 



all over the colony, the greatest number of them 

 are gathered together under their king in the pro- 

 vince of Ankole. Those whom I met in my travels 

 were remarkably light-skinned, and had quite a 

 European type of feature. They are a very ancient 

 race, and are originally supposed to have come up 

 the Nile at some very early date. They are great 

 cattle-owners and all herdsmen. Their women are 

 very high caste, and hide themselves away from 

 strangers as a rule. The headman of those whom 

 I now met had such pronounced breasts that I 

 mistook him for a woman until my orderly laugh- 

 ingly put me right. I believe that this tribe exists 

 in various parts of northern Africa, and is even to 

 be found right away over on the west coast. A 

 picture has been inserted of Bahima natives in a 

 cattle kraal. 



I noticed one of the younger men who was 

 standing looking on had a very pronounced " little 

 Mary " for a mere youth. So I tapped him thereon 

 with my cane, asking him at the same time whether 

 he had had a good meal that day. This insipid \ 

 joke was received with greater applause than it 

 merited, which showed that they too were full of 

 that innate childishness so typical of all African 

 tribes. 



I did not delay over long, as the weather looked 

 threatening, and I had still several hours' march in 

 front of me. 



The country through which we were now 

 passing was very pretty, clumps of bushes and low 



247 



