A WAR DANCE 



that is irksome and trying in a long journey. And 

 I think they appreciated my attitude towards them, 

 for they showed unquestioning obedience to my 

 slightest command, and helped me in every way to 

 the best of their ability, by combining to help each 

 other in their respective work. I will give one 

 illustration of the kind feeling and thoughtfulness 

 they will show if well treated. Smoking is one of 

 their few luxuries. Yet when I had finished my 

 tobacco, and the men heard of it, one of my syces, 

 whom I had recently lightly punished for some 

 trivial offence, went round and collected a little of 

 the precious weed from each, and then came up 

 and presented it to me, in such a way that it was 

 impossible to refuse. 



Their favourite dance is the war dance. Ten 

 or twelve men, fully armed with spear, shield and 

 knife, and wearing their sandals, gather together 

 round an ox-hide, which is stretched in the centre 

 of the dancing-place. The rest of the spectators 

 form a hollow square around them, while farther 

 back the women stand on the outermost edge of the 

 ring. At a given signal the warriors begin singing 

 and then dancing in a circle, at first slowly, but 

 gradually faster and faster. From time to time one 

 of them will rush towards their chief, leaping high 

 in the air, brandishing his spear and saluting, while 

 the others all stamp together upon the ox-hide. They 

 gradually work themselves into a perfect frenzy of 

 excitement ; the spectators join in the songs, keeping 

 time by stamping on the hard ground, while above 

 the uproar can be heard the thin shrill cries of the 

 women, voicing their approval. 



Chiefs of tribes are buried with some ceremony. 



155 



