Through Ruanda to Lake Kiwu 6i 



of one of the great Watiiales. The Sultan himself had assumed 

 the stage management of the joint dances of the chiefs. At the 

 conclusion of each new phase he never omitted to question me 

 as to which group had best satisfied me, and I took good care 

 that my replies should be as agreeable as possible to the ears 

 of the ruler. 



Then a number of young Watussi exhibited their remarkable 

 skill in javelin throwing. Taking a run of ten steps, bending 

 backwards almost to the ground, they hurled their javelins up 

 to almost prodigious heights and with such impetus that two of 

 the spear shafts broke in the air from the vibration. It was 

 the same with the shooting matches with bow and arrow, in 

 which the trunk of a banana tree was used for the butt. The 

 shooting average at fifty metres was really good. Great strength 

 is required to bend the bow correctly, and to draw it to its fullest 

 extent long years of practice are necessary. The elasticity of 

 the bow, which is from 1.30 to 1.50 metres in height, is extra- 

 ordinarily great, and with the bow-string drawn to its fullest 

 extent the arrow flies a distance of two hundred paces. Running 

 races, too, were organised, but owing to the lack of the necessary 

 measuring instruments I am, unfortunately, not in a position to 

 give the times. I have no doubt, however, that in this depart- 

 ment also the European records were at least equalled. 



The effects of a gramophone performance, such as we had 

 offered the Watiiales some days before, were curiously varied. 

 Some listened and presented a most stoical indifference, others 

 opened their eyes till they were as large as saucers, and the 

 faces of others, again, were convulsed with delight. We had 

 occasion here to confirm our former impressions — namely, that 

 our military marches aroused no interest, that unintelligible 

 interlocutions caused general amusement, and that songs in a 

 female voice, especially when they attained the higher notes, 

 excited screams of laughter. Laughter, however, was a slight 

 source of trouble to the Watussi. It was not supposed to be 

 " good form " to laugh, and it was intensely diverting to watch 

 the frantic efforts made to conceal it, hands being placed quickly 



