FOUR WEEKS IN FIKA 277 



Another offering that gave us enormous pleasure 

 was the war-drum, which for the last sixty years had 

 led the Fikans to victory. Did they lay siege to and 

 fail to capture a city, they had only to 

 throw the drum over its wall, and no 

 defence could keep their men from swarm- 

 ing over to regain it. I have it now, 

 for the Fikans no longer require it. The 

 white man has come, and forbids war. 



One day we were told that the chief's 

 second son was to be married, and we 

 were invited to witness the festivities. Mr 

 Talbot was by then so much better that he 

 came with his wife and me to see them. 

 They took place in a big open square out- 

 side the palace, whither he was carried in a hammock. 

 Before the Royal party appeared a dance was held, 

 which proved monotonous in the extreme. A row of 

 men, youths, and tiny boys advanced slowly, making 

 two movements with each foot before they leant their 

 weight on it, and that was all. They were preceded 

 by a man playing a small, wooden calabash drum, 

 who walked backwards before them. 



This entertainment was at length varied by some 

 musicians, who had far more life and go about them. 

 The drums formed a large contingent — there were two 

 big ones, two long, narrow-waisted ones surrounded 

 by strings that were attached from one end to the 

 other, and which are held between the legs as they 

 are played, and several small, round, wooden calabash 

 drums, which completed that section of the band. 

 One energetic musician played two sorts at the same 

 time — a long, narrow one beneath his arm, and a 



