174 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



first, the princes next, and then chiefs ; but as the 

 days went by the attendance got less and less good, 

 for the food-supply was limited, and men had to go as 

 their stock of provisions became exhausted. 



We went on the first afternoon to see the Maofira 

 preside, as to do so was considered a compliment to 

 him, though I am afraid, even had it been looked upon 

 as the reverse, we should have found it very hard to 

 stay away. The Great Chief himself performed this 

 act of courtesy, and it was a curious sight to see his 

 august person riding the few yards from the Palace 

 walls across the square, followed, not only by mounted 

 courtiers and suite, but by nine men on foot carrying 

 boxes on their heads. These chests hold the Sultan's 

 treasure, and wherever he goes they must always 

 accompany him — to the French post, a mile distant, 



across the square, or on a long 

 journey : the law is immutable. 

 They contain State papers, and 

 also tea, sugar, and soap. 



The fantasia itself did not differ 

 from any other we had seen, and 

 we were glad to turn our atten- 

 tion to the tom-tom that was going 

 on to one side of the square. It 

 is a dance to the accompaniment 

 of music, which in this case in- 

 cluded drums, eleven of the long 

 wooden trombones we had seen 

 that morning, and a clarinet -like 

 believe the technical name for all 

 over- blown instruments is flute, and this was one 

 of them, but in shape and tone it much more closely 



Flute. 



Instrument. 



