The Ruchuru and Ruindi Plains 



During this period of our journey there was a break be- 

 tween the seasons of the " httle " and the " big " rains. 

 The mornings were always fine, but short thunder or rain 

 storms were a frequent occurrence in the afternoons, and the 

 rain being of an exceptionally cold or sometimes sleety variety, 

 it was not exactly in favour with our naked Bahutu porters. 

 They however, had a novel method of keeping the rain away — 

 a method thoroughly believed in by all the natives of the 

 Ruanda. A short wooden whistle, or rather pipe, about 

 three and a half inches long is carried, slung on a string, by 

 most of these natives when on a journey ; this pipe would be 

 produced when a storm threatened, by any native who thought 

 himself favoured by the gods, and he would blow it whilst 

 standing on some eminence — such as an ant-hill or mound ; 

 at intervals cursing and imploring Jupiter Pluvius not to 

 use his watering-pot. The harangue and the whistling away 

 of the rain always interested the whole " safari," and odds 

 were even as to the result, the proceeding being watched 

 with great attention. As the unsuccessful whistlers always 

 " had their legs pulled " by everybody, and entirely lost 

 their prestige if the rain came after all, it was noticeable 

 that when a man stepped out with his whistle he was very 

 careful to select the right occasion, when the set of the wind 

 or other signs appeared favourable to the desired result. 

 The Wanya-ruanda are the only natives, as far as I know, who 

 practise this curious custom ; it is usually the other way in 

 Africa — the gods are more often invoked to send rain and not 

 to withhold it. 



On a long expedition such as we were making, and being 

 continually on the move to fresh scenes and new places, we 

 contracted the restless habit of " thinking on ahead " so to 



97 H 



