304 ANTHROPOLOGY 



merry dozen or so who may be seen poling a barge 

 up or down the river on any day of the year. 

 Their songs are quite musical, and are sung in 

 excellent time and tune coinciding with the move- 

 ments of their bodies and poles. The paddling of 

 boats and canoes is also second nature to them, and 

 with a little training they become expert oarsmen. 

 In the water they are strong and fast swimmers 

 of considerable endurance, but this is not an exercise 

 very largely practised owing to the numerous 

 crocodiles which infest the principal waterways. 



The salutation between natives is as follows. 

 Between men, the hands are clapped with varying 

 intervals between the sounds. A woman responds 

 to this form of greeting by bending the knees 

 slightly, and making a stiff, short bob-curtsey. 

 She does this in the case either of a European or 

 a fellow-countryman. A native meeting a white 

 man bends his body slightly at the hips, and 

 scrapes his feet backward one after the other. 

 Among the younger generation an awkward 

 attempt at a military salute is often added. In 

 remoter regions I have seen the parties on meeting 

 both kneel facing each other, and, whilst in that 

 position, clap the hands as described, the final 

 beats being given with the palms slightly hollowed, 

 which has the effect of somewhat deepening the 

 sound of the claps. 



In reposing, the tribes of this part of Africa 

 rarely assume any other position than that known 

 as sitting on the heels. If very fatigued a man 

 will lie on his back or stomach ; but when assembled 

 round the fire, or in conversation in the village, he 



