The Eastern Congo 



We now moved to a flat grassy space without the en- 

 closure to witness a display of archery, throwing the lance 

 and the famous high-jumping. Here my wife provided tea 

 and cakes but this was a " wash-out " as far as Msinga was 

 concerned, for he never eats in public. 



Both the Watusi and Batwa are good shots with the 

 bow and arrow, being able to hit a small mark at a hundred 

 paces. Holding the bow diagonally in front of them and 

 stretching it to its utmost by a forward and downward move- 

 ment of the body, they let fly as the bow is brought down. 

 The high- jump was the most interesting part of this enter- 

 tainment, the Watusi who took part in it clearing mth a 

 straight jump a good seven feet six inches from a low " take 

 off " of hard clay. After seeing this performance my wife 

 had little hesitation in placing herself, when asked, beneath 

 the cross-stick to be jumped over ; this was done with feet 

 and to spare, also a jump was made over three natives 

 standing in a row, one in front of another. 



With some bouts of wrestling the day came to an 

 end, and having thanked Msinga most heartily for the 

 splendid time he had given us, we walked back to camp to 

 attend once again to the packing of loads and to a hundred 

 and one other things, in preparation for our march to Lake 

 Kivu. 



46 



