Through Ruanda to Lake Kiwu 6i 
of one of the great Watiiales. The Sultan himself had assumed 
the stage management of the joint dances of the chiefs. At the 
conclusion of each new phase he never omitted to question me 
as to which group had best satisfied me, and I took good care 
that my replies should be as agreeable as possible to the ears 
of the ruler. 
Then a number of young Watussi exhibited their remarkable 
skill in javelin throwing. Taking a run of ten steps, bending 
backwards almost to the ground, they hurled their javelins up 
to almost prodigious heights and with such impetus that two of 
the spear shafts broke in the air from the vibration. It was 
the same with the shooting matches with bow and arrow, in 
which the trunk of a banana tree was used for the butt. The 
shooting average at fifty metres was really good. Great strength 
is required to bend the bow correctly, and to draw it to its fullest 
extent long years of practice are necessary. The elasticity of 
the bow, which is from 1.30 to 1.50 metres in height, is extra¬ 
ordinarily great, and with the bow-string drawn to its fullest 
extent the arrow flies a distance of two hundred paces. Running 
races, too, were organised, but owing to the lack of the necessary 
measuring instruments I am, unfortunately, not in a position to 
give the times. I have no doubt, however, that in this depart¬ 
ment also the European records were at least equalled. 
The effects of a gramophone performance, such as we had 
offered the Watuales some days before, were curiously varied. 
Some listened and presented a most stoical indifference, others 
opened their eyes till they were as large as saucers, and the 
faces of others, again, were convulsed with delight. We had 
occasion here to confirm our former impressions—namely, that 
our military marches aroused no interest, that unintelligible 
interlocutions caused general amusement, and that songs in a 
female voice, especially when they attained the higher notes, 
excited screams of laughter. Laughter, however, was a slight 
source of trouble to the Watussi. It was not supposed to be 
“ good form ” to laugh, and it was intensely diverting to watch 
the frantic efforts made to conceal it, hands being placed quickly 
