1891 - 92 .] Dr R. W. Felkin on the Wanyoro Tribe. 
151 
In all respects the people lead an easy-going life. They appear to 
be contented and satisfied, and I do not think they are either enter- 
prising or ambitions enough to take readily to laborious employments. 
As far as I saw, they were lazy, unwilling, and unsatisfactory porters, 
but it must be admitted that their service was compulsory, their 
loads were heavy, and their hope of reward small. The Wanyoro 
living near the Nile and on the shores of the Albert Lake occupy 
themselves in fishing. After the evening meal the men collect 
together and carouse round the fires, occasionally singing and 
otherwise amusing themselves. 
Amusements . — The people’s amusements are not extensive, and 
consist chiefly in assemblies usually held at night at which dancing 
takes place, old and young alike participating with vigour. Some- 
times men and women dance at the same time, but not together ; at 
other times solos are indulged in. War-dances are also performed ; 
and mimic warfare, in which great agility is exhibited, is a favourite 
pastime. Some of the dances are indecent in the extreme. The 
Wanyoro have some little theatrical ability, and sometimes their 
dances are arranged to illustrate some event, or to caricature some 
incident or person. The following scene which I witnessed at Kodj 
will illustrate what I mean ; — A dance was arranged for mj^ enter- 
tainment, and one of the dancers was called Abdul Aziz after Linant 
de Bellefonds. On one occasion Linant was riding and smoking, 
when he was suddenly attacked, so he immediately gave his pipe to 
his man in exchange for his gun. This was caricatured, two men 
dancing one after another, one carrying a pipe, the other a gun, 
the first one representing Linant. The steps resembled a, horse 
galloping, and the dance was very amusing ; every now and then the 
man, leaving ofif smoking, took his gun and fired into the crowd, and 
then resumed his pipe. Jesters and professional story-tellers are 
frequently met with; they go from village to village reciting legends 
or witty stories, which the people enjoy greatly. They usually wear 
fantastic head-dresses, and are not infrequently expert musicians of 
a kind. The occasion of births and marriages and the appearance of 
the new moon (see ceremonies connected with new moon) are gladly 
utilised by the people for carousal, dance and song. 
Musical Instruments . — The Wanyoro possess various musical 
instruments, of which perhaps the drum is the chief. These are 
