208 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XXI. 
and a half broad, being so placed as to form a front of 
hide-armour. 
The Zulu tribes have all sorts of war-songs; they 
are most regular in chant and melodious in tune, with 
motions and gesticulations very minute and simulta¬ 
neous, the effect of which is most stirring and martial. 
After they had recited these war-songs a sham fight 
took place. In a moment the front row of shields was 
held up over their heads, and a perfect cloud of 
skirmishers started to the front from among those who 
had formed up behind; these darted about right and 
and left, jumped into the air, and went through all the 
antics of so many devils. They advanced and retired 
as though the tide of battle was swaying them all the 
time, using their spears and battleaxes as if stabbing or 
cleaving the enemy, and their shields to parry or ward 
off the counter-blows. 
The great mass was all this time advancing in 
support of the skirmishers, shouting their war-songs, 
and with a tread so regular that it made the very earth 
vibrate. 
The Zulu war-dress is most fantastic, but at the 
same time most picturesque. First, round the ankle 
there is a fringe of long hair from a bullock’s tail; 
immediately above the calf of the leg there is another, 
which hangs downwards nearly to the first; the knee 
and tendon Achilles are quite free; round the waist is 
