A BAND OF THIRTY-THREE DRUMS. 143 
in the lake as they ferried over, danced and skipped 
up the hill the whole way to the sound of the pleasing 
drum and bugle band. His revenue was said to be 
one jar out of every three of plantain- wine ; and all 
his guests coming from the neighbouring provinces 
had to be fed by the farmers around. It has always 
been the custom of Uganda, Usui, and Karague, that 
when any one of their chiefs sends messengers to the 
other, the royal bearers are free to settle where they 
like, and to provision themselves as they require from 
the stores of the people, no payment being ever taken 
for anything. Plantain is so common that nothing is 
said if a stranger is seen plucking a bunch from a 
tree ; but at night many disturbances and frequent 
fights occur when a raid is made for goats. Stones 
fly, spears are thrown, and all is in confusion, if any- 
thing beyond a bunch of plantain is attempted to be 
carried off. 
We were asked to witness a new-moon ceremony. 
This generally takes place three days after the first 
appearance of the luminary, and it was celebrated as 
usual by our men firing volleys in the air. The sultan 
assumes the priestly garb, and dons his long, false, 
white beard on this occasion. His whole body re- 
mains concealed behind a screen, and he has beside 
him his insignia of office, either a small drum, or an 
instrument which no one but himself can raise. The 
drums, generally thirty-three, are on the ground, in 
a line, each having a large white cross on its head — a 
strange Crusader-like custom. A man stands behind 
each, and the leader, with two small drums, is in front 
to give the time. On his raising the right arm, the 
thirty-three drummers do the same, then the left arm, 
