MATABELE LAND. 



her, some pendent. Round her arms were massive 

 brazen bracelets. A blue and white freemason's 

 apron appeared in front, and looked strangely anom- 

 alous there, though really 

 not unbecoming. From 

 her waist also there hung 

 down behind a number of 

 brilliantly-coloured woollen 

 neck-wraps, red being the 

 predominant colour. Un- 

 der the apron was a sort 

 of short black skirt, cover- 

 ing the thighs, made of 

 wrought ox - hide. Her 

 legs and feet were bare, 

 but round her ankles were 

 the circlets of bells worn 

 by the women to make a 

 noise when they dance. 

 Her head-dress was de- 

 cidedly pretty — a small 

 bouquet of artificial flowers 

 in front, and amongst the 

 hair, standing in all direc- 

 tions, feathers of bee-eat- 

 ers' tails. A small circu- 

 lar ornament, fashioned out of red clay, was on the 

 back of her head. She put herself in posture for 

 the dance, but did not move very much or ener- 

 getically whilst keeping time ; she suffered too much 

 from adiposity. She held one of the large oval black 



OX-HIDE SHIELD. 



