IX 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



441 



would be construed as evidence of unfriendliness to 

 the Daitcho ; and this was the last opinion I wished 

 them to entertain. In order to humour them, I told 

 them to wait ; and when my men had finished eat- 

 ing the sheep, I took the tallest and blackest one, 

 dressed him in a long, white robe, placed a large 

 sun-umbrella in his hand, took him to the opening 

 in front of my camp (where at that time the locusts 

 were falling like hail-stones), and ordered him there 

 to dance and sing in the most vigorous manner, and 

 at the same time spin the umbrella over his head. 

 This seemed to satisfy the natives, and their looks 

 and gestures testified to the strength of their feel- 

 ings of joy and satisfaction. 



Around and about danced the negro, his shouts 

 echoing to the heavens, and his white umbrella seem- 

 ing a halo above his head. When he exhibited signs 

 of fatigue, I shouted to him to increase the rapidity 

 of his motions ; and, finally, when the sound of his 

 voice had become faint and hoarse, and perspiration 

 streamed freely from every pore, I permitted him to 

 cease his gyrations. 



Lo, hardly had he stopped, when an event occurred 

 which filled me with surprise, and produced more 

 than astonishment in the minds not only of the 

 natives, but of my followers as well. For hours the 

 locusts had swept by us in millions, and it seemed 

 there was no end to them. As far as the eye could 

 see to the north, nothing was in view but a cloud of 

 these insects. However, when my unwilling dervish 

 had ceased his efforts, the cloud of locusts stopped, as 

 though at the word of command, hesitated a moment 



