290 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



" early to bed," in order that lie may be able to slumber 

 through half the day. 



It is evident that these barbarians lead rather a 

 " fast " life ; there are, however, two points that modify 

 its evil consequences. The " damned distillation " is 

 unknown, consequently they do not suffer from delirium 

 tremens, its offspring. Their only brain-work is that 

 necessitated by the simple wants of life, and by the 

 unartificial style of gambling which they affect. 

 Amongst the civilized, the peculiar state of the nervous 

 system in the individual, and in society, the abnormal 

 conditions induced by overcrowding in cities and towns, 

 has engendered a cohort of dire diseases which the 

 children of nature ignore. 



Such is the African's idle day, and thus every summer 

 is spent. As the wintry rains draw nigh, the necessity 

 of daily bread suggests itself. The peasants then leave 

 their huts at 6 or 7 a.m., often without provision, which 

 now becomes scarce, and labour till noon, or 2 p.m,, 

 when they return home, and find food prepared by the 

 wife or the slave-girl. During the afternoon they 

 return to work, and sometimes, when the rains are near, 

 they are aided by the women. Towards sunset all 

 wend homewards in a body, laden with their implements 

 of cultivation, and singing a kind of " dulce domum," 

 in a simple and pleasing recitative. 



When the moon shines bright the spirits of the East 

 African are raised like the jackal's, and a furious drum- 

 ming and a droning chorus summon the maidens to 

 come out and enjoy the spectacle of a dance. The 

 sexes seldom perform together, but they have no 

 objection to be gazed at by each other. Their style of 

 saltation is remarkable only for the extreme gravity 

 which it induces — at no other time does the East 



