MEDICAL NOTES. 33 



appeared, bringing towards me in their midst a very grotesque 

 figure. Its body was decked with bunches of green leaves, upon 

 its head was placed a wreath of straw, the blades of which 

 stood upright, and its legs and arms were encased in green 

 leaves ; and thus decked out this new performer was led up 

 and down by a rope tied round his neck amidst universal 

 " holloas." Then he began to dance, the time being kept by 

 the hand-clapping of the spectators. Shaking and trembling 

 movements of the body, the feet being fixed, alternated with 

 hopping round upon one leg and deep obeisances ; until at 

 length, completely mastered by fatigue, he closed his enter- 

 tainment with the usual pantomimic thanks. 



Many of these people have large white patches upon their, 

 hands, caused by a loss of pigment, and possibly connected 

 with syphilis. I had the opportunity of seeing the same 

 affection many times in Uganda last year. The skin over the 

 parts affected shows no signs of altered texture, nor is any 

 palpable difference to be felt ; women often suffer from it. 

 It is a curious fact that from about 3° N. lat. to the equator 

 the Filaria medinensis or guinea-worm appears to be entirely 

 unknown, whereas farther to the north it is one of the most 

 frequent diseases. The same causes which apparently give 

 rise to the disease in these latitudes are far more potent here, 

 but it is true that some negro tribes appear excessively pre- 

 disposed to it, whereas others are almost entirely free. 



Notwithstanding that since midnight it had poured in 

 torrents, we commenced our march early in the morning, 

 heartily glad to escape the indescribable plague of gnats ; and, 

 as if to reward us for our exertions, the sky became gradually 

 clear, at least clear enough to permit us to enjoy a comfort- 

 able march. Laughing and singing, the men hurriedly ad- 

 vanced, for that day Mreko's headquarters were to be reached. 

 The porters actually danced along, often raising with both 

 hands their loads high above their heads, singing in chorus, 

 accompanied by horns and flutes playing, and interspersed with 

 loud cries and calls, Mreko's bio- drum breaking in now and 

 then with its droning tones — a striking if inharmonious concert. 

 Forward, through deeply undulating park land, broken up by 

 many swampy patches, we advanced almost at a trot. At 



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