198 



LAKEMBA AND S A V U - S A V U. 



paces distance, were seated about one hundred men and boys : these 

 we afterwards ascertained were the musicians. The stone walls in 

 the vicinity were crowded by numbers of natives of both sexes, while 

 beyond them an open space Avas apparently reserved, and surrounded 

 by numbers of spectators. 



We stood in expectation of the opening of the entertainment, and 

 were amused to observe the anxiety manifested by the natives, both 

 old and young. Suddenly we heard shouts of loud laughter in the 

 open space beyond, and saw moving towards its centre a clown. His 

 body was entirely covered with green and dried leaves, and vines 

 bound round in every way ; on his head he wore a mask somewhat 

 resembling a bear's head, painted black on one side, and orange on 

 the other ; in one hand he carried a large club, and in the other one 

 of the short ones, to which our men had given the name of " Handy 

 Billy ;" his movements were very much like those of our clowns, and 

 drew down immense applause from the spectators. The musicians 



FEEJEE CLOWN. 



now began a monotonous song on one note, the bass alternating with 

 the air ; they then sound one of the common chords in the bass clef, 

 without the alternation. Some of the performers clapped their hands 

 to make a sharp sound ; others beat sticks together ; while a few had 

 joints of large bamboo, two or three feet long, open at one end, which 

 they struck on the open end, producing a sound similar to that of a 

 weak-toned drum. Although it could not be called music, they 



