Through Ruanda to Lake Kiwu 59 
had taken seats, the presentation of our gifts took place. In 
order to heighten the effect, we ordered the “ boys ” up singly 
with their presents, so that they might be displayed to the best 
advantage. 
The ordinary presents did not in the least excite the atten¬ 
tion of the potentate; they were put aside with indifference or 
divided immediately amongst his head men. The clanging of 
an alarum clock, which had to be explained in every detail, 
pleased Msinga rather more, and his satisfaction grew into 
rapture when I handed him my hunting knife and a cartridge 
pouch filled with ammunition to fit the sharpshooter rifle 
which had been lent him. But his enthusiasm reached its 
climax when I, with much solemnity, presented him with a saw, 
for which he had specially asked. After a few failures, he 
succeeded in sawing away the legs of my chair and operating 
upon everything else within reach with fairly good results. The 
“ministry,” too, watched the experiments with the liveliest in¬ 
terest. The Askari, who were put through their drill and evolu¬ 
tions, gave considerable satisfaction, and this was heightened 
by the firing of a few rapid volleys. 
The following few days were devoted to sports and athletic 
exercises, of which the high jumping of the young Watussi was 
a most remarkable feature. 
A line, which could be raised or lowered at will, was stretched 
between two slender trees, standing on an incline. The athletes 
had to run up to this and jump from a small termite heap a foot 
in height. Despite these unfavourable conditions, exhibitions 
were given which would place all European efforts in the shade. 
The best jumpers, slender, but splendid figures, with an almost 
Indian profile, attained the incredible height of 2.50 metres, 
and young boys made the, relatively, lio less wonderful perform¬ 
ance of 1.50 to 1.60 metres.* 
With Weidemann’s assistance I was enabled, by means of 
an excellent cinematograph apparatus, to obtain a few capital 
♦ According to a report by the German sporting authorities, the American 
world-record was 1.94 metres. 
