of Edinburgh, Session 1885-86. 
1A1 
afford considerable pleasure to the people, and a good dancer, that 
is one who can keep up for a long time, is much in request, some 
of the chiefs even maintaining professional dancing boys. 
Boys also are incited to kicking matches, at which they exhibit 
considerable agility. They endeavour to strike with the sole of 
their foot, no sandals being permitted. Wrestling matches are also 
very common. The right hand may at first be only used until a 
good grip is obtained, the left being held behind the back. As 
well as affording amusement, wrestling is practised to settle dis- 
putes; in such cases an umpire is often appointed by the two 
disputants. 
The Waganda are exceedingly good story tellers, and wile away 
many an hour by relating anecdotes in turn. The stories treat of 
all kinds of incidents, grave and gay, decent and the reverse. The 
following stories will serve to illustrate their style, as well as to 
afford some information on other matters : — 
1. A hunter had been very unsuccessful for a long time. He 
was sitting in his hut one day with his wives and children, because 
a terrible storm raged through the forest ; presently a bird flew in 
for shelter, and the children seeing this tried to catch it. The 
hunter, however, took its part, and forbade the children to touch it. 
When the storm had passed away, the bird said to the hunter, “ I 
will help you now ; you are a kind man. I will fly before you, and 
lead you to the prey;” and it did so, and the hunter rejoiced. 
2. A chief once had a favourite wife, to whom he committed the 
care of all he had. Even his other wdves, and they were very 
numerous, were under her control. He returned home from hunt- 
ing one day, and called his wife, but she had disappeared mysteri- 
ously, and was nowhere to be found. This loss was a great grief 
to him; his household was disordered, and his other wdves 
quarrelled. He was in despair, when one day, as he was walking in 
the forest and thinking of his lost wife, he cried aloud, “ Oh ! my 
treasure, could I but find you.” A honey bird flew to him, and said, 
“Your wife is in the sky.” For a moment he was overjoyed, but 
then became more sorrowful than ever, for, although he might seek 
throughout the forest, he could not climb the clouds. A rat then 
came to his aid, telling him of a tree that grew very quickly, and 
offering to show it to him. He followed the rat through the forest, 
