SPOR T IN ABYSSINIA. 1 07 



which I had brought with me. The dancing was rather 

 curious : all stood round in a circle singing a mono- 

 tonous chant and clapping their hands ; one stood out 

 in the circle and went through extraordinary contor- 

 tions, throwing his body backwards as far as possible 

 and then twisting quickly round. In one part of the 

 dance they all squatted down and wriggled their 

 bodies about, making a sort of hissing noise with their 

 teeth. I requested Brou to translate the words of the 

 song, which were, "Plough, ploughman, plough, nor turn 

 your attention to merchandise ;" this meant, of course, 

 stay at home, till your land, and lead a quiet life ; do 

 not seek other riches in far countries. It was repeated 

 over and over again, like most Eastern songs ; and 

 they would have gone on all night, I believe, if we 

 had allowed them. 



ya7t. 26. — I went out in the morning at day- 

 break and saw literally nothing but a dik-dik. There 

 are vast quantities of partridges amongst the tama- 

 risk bushes, which Fisk shoots for the pot with great 

 success. I always regret not having brought out a dog 

 of some sort or other, as dogs are always useful for 

 retrieving birds. I frequently came across the tracks 

 of koodoo, but never saw one. H. told me, when 

 he came back to camp, that he had " rolled over " a 

 deer, and, on running up to secure him, the animal 

 staggered away amongst the high grass and jungle and 



