2 12 
EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
were trying to shake them off. Their long hair, hop¬ 
ping about like mops, distributed the grease and red 
clay in all directions, while they kept up a monotonous 
chant which was rather depressing. The performers 
were all picked men of Sina’s bodyguard, which is 
changed every few days, three hundred being required 
to surround his abode each night. 
Although a powerful chief, with about two thousand 
warriors under his command, Sina is always in fear of 
being attacked by some of his enemies. lie presents a 
bullock to the bodyguard, at the end of their term of 
duty, upon which they feast directly the relief detach¬ 
ment arrives. Every morning we were awakened about 
5 a.m. by this bodyguard, which at that hour went 
through a sort of field day and drill, the latter man¬ 
oeuvre being remarkable for its simplicity. They yelled 
a good deal, and brandished their spears and guns, and 
made a series of short rushes, advancing and retiring 
en masse up and down the slopes, those carrying guns 
occasionally firing them off in the air, while the spear- 
bearers crouched under their shields and held their 
weapons in rest. On account of these performances we 
became very early risers, as it was hopeless to try and 
sleep for a second after 5 a.m. 
At night we let off some rockets for the edification 
of the multitude, and Sina was in raptures when we 
told him that his enemy and neighbour, Mandara, 
would see them, and at once guess that we were 
staying with him. Our present to Sina consisted of 
two Snider rifles, with fifty rounds of ammunition, and 
