MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 
as the drums ‘‘ gave them pepper.” Then, still crouch- 
ing and still jumping up and down with incredible 
swiftness, they would back out and disappear round 
the side of the house. This ended the first figure. 
For the second figure probably twenty of the force 
would enter, marching sedately in Indian file, the 
drums playing a slower rhythm. Suddenly the per- 
formers would stop, then they would turn their heads 
from side to side, and begin to move their legs slowly 
in time to the drums. Still wagging their heads, 
and without any increased motion of the limbs, they 
would proceed right round the ring of spectators and 
retire, without any perceptible quickening of pace. For 
the third figure they reappeared in files, moving their 
heads, the limbs still going in slow time. They ad- 
vanced and retreated to and from the spectators several 
times, singing as they went, and finally backed out. 
We witnessed also a dance of the Mombare people, 
who are likewise members of the native police. With 
the dancers was one woman. ‘Their method was to 
jump up and down, and thus they worked slowly round 
the oval enclosure formed by spectators. ‘They held 
themselves erect all the time, and their demeanour 
was not serious, the dance being accompanied by loud 
shouting and great perspiration. During all these 
dances the Orgiasts fell into a terrible state of excite- 
ment, and often could not stop dancing until they 
fell quite exhausted. Mountain dances are some- 
times accompanied by tragedies, for the confusion of 
the revel is made the occasion for wiping off old 
scores, and a dancer will suddenly fall dead, struck 
through by the spear of his enemy. 
308 
