THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 171 



Most of the country traversed in going to Obbo was exceed- 

 ingly beautiful, being richly diversified by mountains, on the 

 peaks of which native villages could be seen, impregnable by 

 position, and green valleys covered with large herds of wild 

 game lent variety to the view. There was also an abundance of 

 wild fruits and nuts of most delicious taste, providing sufficient 

 support for the natives. 



The journey was made without special incident, and on arrival 

 they were most hospitably received by the chief, Katchiba, who 

 was an old man, but a great clown and joker. He had one 

 specially good point, however he did not beg. 



In the evening an entertainment was provided by the chief for 

 his visitors, which Baker describes as follows: "About a 

 hundred men formed a circle ; each man held in his left hand a 

 small, cup-shaped drum, formed of hollowed wood, one end only 

 being perforated, and this was covered with the skin of the 

 elephant's ear, tightly stretched. In the centre of the circle was 

 the chief dancer, who wore, suspended from his shoulders, 

 an immense drum, also covered with the elephant's ear. The 

 dance commenced by all singing remarkably well a wild but 

 agreeable tune in chorus, the big drum directing the time, and 

 the whole of the little drums striking at certain periods with such 

 admirable precision that the effect was that of a single instru- 

 ment. The dancing was most vigorous, and far superior to 

 anything that I had seen among either Arabs or savages, the 

 figures varying continually, and ending with a grand galop ' in 

 double circles, at a tremendous pace, the inner ring revolving irf 

 a contrary direction to the outer, the effect of which was 

 excellent." 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OBBO PEOPLE. 



THE men of Obbo wear a dress consisting of a skin slung 

 across the shoulder and loins, but the women are almost naked, 

 and instead of wearing the leather apron and tail of the 

 Latookas, they are contented with a slight fringe of leather 

 shreds, about four inches long by two broad, suspended from a 

 The unmarried girls go entirely naked ; or, if they are 



