THE TUBURI LAKES 81 



it was necessary to hurry them on at once, while 

 there was still enough water in the Loofone for the 

 steamer to come up and bring them down to Fort 

 Lamy. There were only two canoes available, and 

 M. Helling, who was in charge of the transport on 

 behalf of the trading company Ouhame et Nana, was 

 there, and also wished to press on. It was settled 

 that he was to join us, and we four managed to pack 

 ourselves, our attendants, and our boxes in somehow ; 

 and, by dint of not having extra long days, got 

 through without being actively the worse for cramp. 



We camped twice more in Tuburi villages, at Yue 

 and Fianga. As I have already mentioned, Yue was 

 temporarily occupied by a sous - officier, and he told 

 us that on the previous night he had witnessed a 

 dance held in celebration of the harvest festival. It 

 was evident, therefore, that this feast had been kept 

 on the first day of the new moon, just as at Sulkando, 

 and we marvelled by what means the natives made 

 such accurate astronomical observations as to foretell 

 its exact rise. 



We were anxious to see the dance repeated, and 

 promised gifts to those who would do it. The Tuburi 

 do not like white people, but they were curious to 

 see Mrs Talbot and me ; and, after some deliberation, 

 they replied that they would dance, but only for that 

 reason, and for the sake of our gifts — not to give us 

 pleasure. 



It was very dark when they arrived, and they came 

 so quietly that we hardly realised they were there. 

 The central figure was a musician, a man with a 

 clumsy wooden horn. It was over-blown, and had 

 only one stop, which he worked with the right hand. 



F 



