260 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



of song and dance ; in fact, rather of an Irish 

 temperament. 



They are fairly industrious, and I often noticed 

 that the land was carefully irrigated. 



Their spears are extremely long and have a 

 small lance head at the top. The arrows have a 

 very long curved barb, often with a blob of poison 

 attached. They seem to be superstitious and are 

 fond of charms. A very common thing is a curious, 

 almost complete, ring of wood worn round the 

 wrist. This is about an inch and a half in diameter, 

 and usually of ebony, often with curious patterns 

 inlaid. It is difficult to imagine how the wrist is 

 introduced, but a man after great persuasion 

 showed that with great exertion the ring could be 

 opened sufficiently to slip off. 



They are also fond of wearing amulets, goats' 

 horns, or a small piece of ivory on a string round 

 the neck. Very often one finds curious little brass 

 cylinders hung on these necklaces. These appear 

 to contain a charm. They are also fond of all 

 kinds of beads. Many shave the head, leaving 

 only a longitudinal strip or sometimes a horizontal 

 semi-circle of little clustering curls. They wear 

 barkcloth only, which is usually dyed black, pro- 

 bably in the swamps. The country is almost 

 certainly a good one for cattle, and I should 

 fancy well suited for coffee and other plantations. 



After a very pleasant time amongst these delight- 

 ful people, I passed over a long, rather barren, hill 



