HEAD-DEESSES ; DANCING. 211 



the lap, but as by rising they would find themselves in an 

 awkward predicament, they turn deftly to the right-about, 

 whilst still retaining their seat, hold their stool, rise while 

 pressing the light stool to their seats a 'posteriori, and in this 

 position move away two steps, when a distance required by an 

 observance of decencies is supposed to have been reached. 



If little attention is paid to the clothing, all the more care 

 is expended upon the dressing of the hair, and as Nature has 

 lent her aid by bestowing upon the people abundant heads of 

 hair, a good deal can be accomplished in this direction. Apart 

 from the high chignons, one notices, especially in girls, nume- 

 rous fantastical frisures, produced by puffing and plaiting the 

 hair ; they for the most part defy all description. If a person's 

 own hair is not considered sufficient, that of some dead person 

 is requisitioned. Head-dresses and brimless straw hats are 

 kept in place by means of ivory hair-pins, which are also used 

 as ornaments. They are neatly made, with square, round, or 

 crescent-shaped heads, which are sometimes decorated by burnt- 

 in dotted patterns. Iron hair-pins, as used by the Zande, are 

 very rare here, and probably of foreign importation. As trim- 

 ming for the hats, round bunches of red parrot's feathers are 

 used, in default of which (for they are dear) the white feathers 

 of hens and cocks are utilised. Chains and bracelets of iron, 

 copper, and brass are worn. It is a universal custom to paint 

 the body with the black juice of the gardenia, and to lubricate 

 it with a pomade made of a red wood and palm-oil. 



When the day's work is over, dancing and singing are carried 

 on. On important festive occasions the chief or his eldest son 

 dances before a semicircle of women, who sit upon stools and 

 accompany the fantastic movements of the dancer with singing, 

 swinging the arms, and swaying the body. The costume of 

 the dancer consists of the red rohho trousers, and a belt 

 ornamented with copper, bunches of genet, monkey and 

 leopards' tails, pieces of beautiful otter-skin, and bunches of 

 various-coloured feathers, especially those of the parrot and 

 turacos." The women's dances are specially arranged. Form- 

 ing a large circle, they step lightly around, singing as they 

 go, and surrounded by a double row of men. The mimicry 

 of the dance is more decent here than elsewhere. Trombones 



