176 
THE TJIKKLELK, 
changes into stamping, the company draws closer 
to the centre, and intense excitement prevails 
as they come to a climax with wild yells and 
shouts, bounding leaps in the air, and powerful 
strokes on the drums. In the sudden silence 
which succeeds, another voice in rotation takes 
up the tale : it seems to me that when they 
have gone on for hours, and exhausted every 
rational request, they get imaginative, and, like 
boys telling wonderful tales, each tries to outdo 
his fellow in the extravagance of his impromptu 
invocation. At this dance they wear all their 
ornaments, such as large and heavy carved 
combs, necklaces which dangle on the breast, 
and ear-rings. 
It was frequently a subject of discussion be- 
tween H. and me whether this vras the only 
dance of the people. Towards the end of our 
stay a young man was very anxious to be pos- 
sessed of a gay red-and -yellow handkerchief we 
had, such as liis companion, the chiefs son, was 
wearing with great pride. But he never brought 
us anything to barter of nearly sufficient value 
for it, and as our stock of goods was getting low, 
we could not afford to be as generous as I was 
tempted to be, for he was a comely youth with 
a pleasant face, and the most enviable crown of 
