Through Ruanda to Lake Kiwu 59 



had taken seats, the presentation of our gifts took place. In 

 order to heighten the effect, we ordered the " boys " up singly 

 with their presents, so that they might be displayed to the best 

 advantage. 



The ordinary presents did not in the least excite the atten- 

 tion of the potentate ; they were put aside with indifference or 

 divided immediately amongst his head men. The clanging of 

 an alarum clock, which had to be explained in every detail, 

 pleased Msinga rather more, and his satisfaction grew into 

 rapture when I handed him my hunting knife and a cartridge 

 pouch filled with ammunition to fit the sharpshooter rifle 

 which had been lent him. But his enthusiasm reached its 

 climax when I, with much solemnity, presented him with a saw, 

 for which he had specially asked. After a few failures, he 

 succeeded in sawing away the legs of my chair and operating 

 upon everything else within reach with fairly good results. The 

 "ministry," too, watched the experiments with the liveliest in- 

 terest. The Askari, who were put through their drill and evolu- 

 tions, gave considerable satisfaction, and this was heightened 

 by the firing of a few rapid volleys. 



The following few days were devoted to sports and athletic 

 exercises, of which the high jumping of the young Watussi was 

 a most remarkable feature. 



A line, which could be raised or lowered at will, was stretched 

 between two slender trees, standing on an incline. The athletes 

 had to run up to this and jump from a small termite heap a foot 

 in height. Despite these unfavourable conditions, exhibitions 

 were given which would place all European efforts in the shade. 

 The best jumpers, slender, but splendid figures, with an almost 

 Indian profile, attained the incredible height of 2.50 metres, 

 and young boys made the, relatively, no less w^onderful perform- 

 ance of 1.50 to 1.60 metres.* 



With Weidemann's assistance I was enabled, by means of 

 an excellent cinematograph apparatus, to obtain a few capital 



* According to a report by the German sporting authorities, the American 

 world-record was 1.94 metres. 



