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THE KAVAKLUSI. — MOVEMENTS OF THE DANCERS. 17 July, 
any attempt at a particular step or acquired movement of the feet ; 
nor at any time did they join hands. In this form they moved round 
in a body, keeping time together, by the assistance of a small party of 
women and girls, who, without joining in the dance, followed them 
round, and regulated their steps by clapping hands in exact measure ; 
but without singing or any other noise. 
The number of women engaged in this, was not more than six or 
seven. Neither these nor the dancers were ornamented or dressed 
in any manner different from that in which they usually appeared. 
The most of the men wore their kobo, placed so as to cover only 
one shoulder, a style of wearing, usual in warm weather, and which 
their present exercise required. The grease and sibilo with which 
their heads were decorated, melted with the warmth, and frequently 
ran down their face in drops. Some of them carried in their hand a 
very long Kavctklusi, which they occasionally used to wipe off the 
moisture from their face or neck. 
This Kavahlusi * is formed of two or three jackals* tails joined 
together in length, by a stick of about four feet long thrust through 
them in the place of the bone. This stick, which must cost much 
labor to form, is generally taken from the heart of the Mokaala-tree 
or cam el- thorn, as that part of the wood is extremely hard and of a 
fine black color. 
Although the dancers moved briskly, the ring itself turned but 
slowly ; so that it made not more than one round in a minute. 
Sometimes after a round or two, it moved back again with a contrary 
motion ; keeping, however, always on the same spot. A number of 
people, above a hundred besides women and children, were in the 
mootsi during this performance : some stood looking on ; but the 
greater part sat at a distance, or walked about. 
* Sometimes pronounced Kaba-Musi : it is also called Kaava-pukoli (jackal's tail). 
The Bushmen, as already described (at page 57.), apply the tail of this animal to the same 
use. The pukuli or pukdji is the Canis mesomelas ; the kliisi is another species which has 
a yellower or redder fiir, and may probably be the Canis aureus but this I do not affirm, 
as the klusi was never shot by any of our party, during our travels in the Transgariepine. 
