Chap. XXL] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 1S5 



effect in which they rejoice. At first they were 

 slowly lifted, to descend again with a single or 

 double stamp ; and the sticks being gently clashed 

 at the same moment, the correspondence was both 

 diverting and striking. But as the performers 

 warmed upon the exercise, their gesticulations be- 

 came more and more diversified, vehement, and 

 energetic — leaping, striding, vaulting, and running, 

 they perpetually crossed each other's orbits, stabbing, 

 parrying, thrusting, advancing, and retreating, 

 with so hght a foot, and so rigid a muscle, that the 

 eye could with difficulty follow the velocity of their 

 motions; now darting to the right, and then as 

 abruptly recoiling to the left, they brandished their 

 sticks aloft, increasing in vehemence by each detour ; 

 then vaulting several feet into the air, leaping, 

 galloping, and charging, in pantomimic conflict, 

 they made the ground resound under their feet, 

 and raised a cloud of dust by the eagerness and 

 rapidity of the exercise — until, foaming and frenzied 

 by their tortuous movements, they fairly sank be- 

 neath the tempest which they had stirred. To the 

 bystander this scene conveyed all the reality of the 

 wildest conflict of savage life ; the darkness of the 

 night, with the pecuhar light shed over the features 

 of the frantic group by the blazing fire, contributing 

 greatly to heighten the impression it produced. 

 In consequence of the absence of the warriors, we 

 had not an opportunity of witnessing any of the 

 great national dances in which the king himself acts 

 a prominent part, but the effect of these public sjjec- 

 tacles may be estimated by what I have described. 



