MUSIC. 197 



across the loins will instantly disable them. The same 

 is the case with their congener on the American con- 

 tinent, the Canadian lynx, or pees/wo. 



I thoroughly believe that the superabundance of 

 meat in a camp has the same effect upon the tribes 

 of the interior of Africa, that an excess of spirituous 

 liquor has upon white men, for both appear to 

 equally set the tongue going and predispose the in- 

 dulgers to late hours. Without calling the Bechu- 

 anas a musical people, still they are not entirely 

 without a knowledge of symphony ; thus many of 

 their melodies are sweet and plaintive, with stirring 

 choruses in which all join, that could scarcely be 

 excelled anywhere, for the perfect time in which they 

 are chanted. 



Songs of war, and also of the chase, are in great 

 repute amongst them, the exciting parts of which are 

 delivered with great pantomimic and declamatory 

 action, each verse finishing with a unity of voices 

 not unfrequently of such power as to make the 

 rocks and kloofs re-echo. The grand period at 

 which to hear these musical displays is on the advent 

 of a new moon, and for several nights after its 

 appearance. On these occasions the dusky ladies 



