I02 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



head he wore a three-inch-deep band of small red 

 beads (two bits of giraffe leather forming the ends 

 above the ears and fastened behind, something like a 

 German '' Kaiserbinde "), with a one-inch wide line of 

 white beads down the centre. One or two had a 

 small patch of blue beads in the red, but said they 

 meant nothing. From the centre of the under-lip, 

 which was pierced, hung about eight inches of thin 

 wire or chain with a bead at the end. The lobes of 

 the ears were pierced with many rings. Round the 

 neck a quantity of beads, and perhaps a bright wing 

 of a bird hung round by a string of hair. On the 

 arms, both above the elbow and at the wrist, were 

 several old small ivory and rhinoceros horn armlets, 

 and iron or brass wire bracelets. Under the armpit a 

 small stool was carried, which also served as a head- 

 rest. Round the waist some more beads, and just 

 below the navel a bell. From the bell, like the cut-off 

 tails of a morning coat, a small skin clear of hair and 

 embroidered round the edge with an inch or two 

 broad pattern. A circular knife round the wrist, a 

 few small spears, each provided with a giraffe-leather 

 sheath, and an oblong (2^ feet by i^ feet) shield of 

 giraffe leather on a stick ornamented at the bottom 

 end by a tuft of ostrich feathers, formed their equip- 

 ment. A few had a couple of ostrich feathers stuck 

 in their hair, and one had the skin of a young cheetah, 

 or large tiger-cat, slung pelisse-wise over one shoulder. 

 A very few wore the headman's badge of giraffe tails 

 (see below). 



The dress of the older men was somewhat different. 



