146 BALL PLAYING. 



up and down at a short distance from the ground, 

 by hitting it with their open hands thick and fast. 

 It certainly appears astonishing when some one 

 more dexterous than the others does manage, after 

 many trials, to bring the ball into such a position 

 that admits of his being able to catch it on the 

 back of his hand, to run clear of the players, fol- 

 lowed fast by them, strike the ball fairly on the 

 ground, catch it as it rises, and, with a triumphant 

 shout, throw it towards the party most distant from 

 him. The new possessor of the ball now en- 

 deavours, before the rest can reach him, to go 

 through the same required moves, and send the 

 bail back in the direction from which he received 

 it. A good deal of laughing, shouting, and 

 wrestling accompanies this boisterous game, and 

 sometimes heavy falls are given, in endeavouring 

 to trip up the controller of the ball's movements 

 before he can effect his desired object of bearing it 

 away and performing the requisite ceremonial. 



There is something in this game that deserves 

 attention, it being of a character so unusual among 

 the people of very hot countries. I believe it to be 

 peculiar to the Dankalli tribes, neither the Arabs, 

 nor the Galla, nor the Abyssinians, their very near 

 neighbours, knowing anything about it, and never, 

 as far as I could observe, indulging in such ener- 

 getic exercise. The only parallel case of a similar 

 systematic exertion employed for recreation among 

 the inhabitants of a warm country, is the amuse- 



