XVIII.] 



DANCING IN MANYUfiMA. 



249 



cannibalism, in wliicli the flesli of men was said to be good, but 

 that of women was bad, and only to be eaten in time of scarci- 

 ty ; nevertheless, it was not to be despised when man-meat was 

 unobtainable. 



Dancing in Manyuema is the prerogative of the chiefs. 

 When they feel inclined for a Terpsichorean performance they 

 single out a good-looking woman from the crowd, and the two 

 go through much wriggling and curious gesticulation opposite 

 each other. The village drums are brought out, and vigorously 



July, 



1874. 



WOMEN GOING FI8UING. 



beaten, the drummers meanwhile shouting " Gamello ! Gamel- 

 lo !" If the woman is unmarried, the fact of a chief asking her 

 to dance is ecpiivalent to an offei* of marriage, and many com- 

 plications often occur in consequence. 



At this place Muinyi Hassani thought himself unwell, and 

 detained us two days. Poor old Muinyi Bokhari was very ill, 

 and was informed that he would be left behind unless he con- 

 sented to part with some of his dearly hoarded cowries and 

 beads to pay men to carry him. I tried to cure the old man, 

 but my doctoring did not prove very successful. 



Leaving Moene Bugga's, we passed villages and cultivated 

 land, and then through a gap in a low range of hills full of 



