Through the Semliki Valley 231 
folk exhibited tremendous suppleness in their hips, and in danc¬ 
ing bent themselves so far backwards that I feared they would 
break their spines. The dance concluded with a somewhat 
affected pose that reminded one of the first awkward attempts of 
an amateur ballet troupe. Whilst the circle danced and sang, a 
man and woman leapt into the centre and played at catching 
one another. The way in which the one constantly eluded the 
efforts made by the other in the comparatively small space was 
a marvel of skill. Whether there was any deeper meaning under¬ 
lying the dance, I was unable to find out. I was amazed at the 
abandon that the small people threw into their dancing, neither 
were they disturbed in the slightest degree at my presence.” 
On the 16 th of March we saw the houses of Irumu in the 
distance. Soon after the head of the caravan arrived at the 
Shari River, which flows past below the outpost. Familiar faces 
welcomed us farther back, and a few moments later we were 
shaking hands with Mildbraed and Czeczatka, whom we were glad 
to find in the best of health and spirits. Chef de foste Tillemans 
and M. Bernstein, the only two officials connected with the 
administration at Irumu at that time, also came up to meet us. 
Irumu is an unusually large outpost, held officially by ten 
Europeans, all of whom, however, excepting the two mentioned 
above, were away on Government service. The place owes its 
importance to its favourable position, as it is the junction 
of the great military roads from Stanleyville to Fort Portal 
and Rutschuru to Beni and Kilo. Thus nearly all Belgian 
officials whose jurisdiction leads them to the northern districts 
of the Congo State are compelled to pass it. In consequence 
the traffic through Irumu is brisker than at any other outpost. 
This cheerful-looking place, which consists of a row of thatched 
brick houses, spacious messrooms and two great store-houses, 
is situated on a hilly plain three hours distant from the eastern 
margin of the great native forest. 
As elephants abound in the neighbourhood, the quantity of 
ivory brought in by the natives is very considerable. Eight 
to nine hundred kilograms leave for Boma every month, and are 
