FUNERAL CEREMONY. 
343 
basket^ with a handle^ in which were bits of iron and pebbles. 
They kept time with the music, jumping and shaking their 
baskets, the contents of which, produced a strange jingling. 
There were two leaders of the band, who regulated the 
intervals when the performers were to play. They wore 
beautiful mantles of cotton net-work, very white, and fringed 
round. On their heads they had black caps, edged with 
scarlet, and adorned with cowries and ostrich-feathers. The 
musicians stood at the foot of a baobab. The assemblage 
was numerous, and all were well dressed. The men were 
tricked out in all their finery. I saw several with little 
coussabes, of a rusty colour, and almost covered with amulets, 
rolled up in little pieces of yellow cloth. Some were armed 
with muskets, and others with bows and arrows, as if pre- 
pared for combat. They also wore large round straw hats, 
of their own native manufacture. They walked all together 
round the assembled circle, leaping and dancing to the sound 
of the music, which I thought very agreeable. Sometimes 
they appeared furious, firing their muskets and running about 
with threatening looks. The men with bows and arrows, 
also appeared as if on the point of rushing on an enemy, and 
they pretended to shoot their arrows. The men were fol- 
lowed by a number of women, all neatly dressed, having 
about their shoulders white pagnes, which they tossed about 
from side to side, while they walked to the sound of the music, 
and observed profound silence. Those who were fatigued 
withdrew, and their places were immediately supplied by 
others. When they left the party, they ran away very fast, 
and were followed by some of the musicians, who accompanied 
them, playing, as far as their huts, where they received a 
present of some colats. About the middle of the festival, all 
the male relatives of the deceased made their appearance 
dressed in white. They walked in two files, each carrying 
in his hand a piece of flat iron, which they struck with 
another smaller piece. They walked round the assembly 
