158 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



as they marched along, 30 or 40 yards being the 

 ordinary distance covered. They are hung over the 

 left shoulder, and there are three methods of throwing 

 them. By one the bearer has only to raise his right 

 hand and fling the weapon forwards, across his body, 

 while some throw underhand, and others as if they 

 were shying. 



Sometimes we passed big caravans of Arabs on thin 

 worn nags, many of whom had come long distances. 

 Others were on foot driv^ing before them sheep and 

 goats required for the festival, for those who could 

 not hope to be the Sultan's guests brought their 

 own food with them. 



The road led straight through the site where the 

 ruined city of Massenia once stood. Now a modern 

 village lies to the north of its crumbled walls, and 

 there is no relic of past glory. 



Tchekna is fifteen miles farther south, and as we 

 approached it we saw women carrying calabashes full 

 of locusts, which when fried are considered a great 

 delicacy. 



Captain Lucas rode out some miles to greet us, and 

 not far behind him came a large body of native troops. 

 They rode up to us at full gallop and saluted, having 

 come to give us greeting from their Royal Master. 



Thus escorted, we rode down a broad, sandy road, 

 and into an enclosure, at the edge of a great plain. 

 Two little huts, at either end of a roofed passage, 

 stood inside it, and these were kindly placed at our 

 disposal by Captain Lucas. Here we spent eight 

 days of supreme interest, though we cannot claim 

 that they were the happiest of our lives. 



