The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-04-18

AS'S lhCy dlC "a SiOup vi yOullS HlCll
and maidens in that pretty nook. See
what splendidly proportional athletes,
with hair rolled into strings which hang
like mop over their heads, small kid
skin garments flung over their Shout
ders or hanging by their sides, and a
glorious layer of grease and clay plas-
tered lavishly from head to foot. The
girls, with only an under girdle round
the loins, and loaded with beads, clay
and grease, make piquant element in
the scene. They stop for moment as
we approach; but soon they resume
the dance with fresh vigor and undated
enthusiasm. You stand with astonish-
ment to view the extraordinary and la
borious manner in which the natives
enjoy themselves. A young man adj
vances, holding wand in his hand.
His arms hang straight down. At first
he hops forward like bird, till, reach
ing the centre, he commences a series
of leaps straight into the air, without
bending his legs or moving his arms.
Ever and anon he gives his head
hitch forward, bringing his long black
hair over his face. After sprinsng in
this manner about a dozen times, he
steps aside, and another takes his place
till all have gone through their PAGES.
Then with wilder movement they trot
round variety of evolutions, and so
the dance ends, to be resumed again
in precisely the same manner"
AN AFRICAN PRINCE.
Mr.. Thomson found that he had
gained no small honor with the natives
as medicine man or ngan,gu, and as
it now became time for the Nasal to
| begin their perennial raids to the coast
tor cattle, he was requested to exercise
his charms to drive the annoyance from
the Wa-taveta. Expectations were Of
no avail. So, with a great show of
mystery, he brews some frizzing salts,
fires some guns and photographs the
gates, which more than satisfies the
credulous savages. His stay among
them was now drawing to a close. Al
though he had only third as many
Ten as was considered safe 10 traverse
the Nasal Land, though most of these
| were "of the weakest and most villain
GUS type" though he had only two
guides, both of whom were confirmed
liars, whereas he should have had at
least six experienced interpreters ;
though he was short, and though he
knew that never year passed without
some Of the indispensable iron wire
trading caravan being annihilated, yet
he counted the cost and determined to
trust to his good fortune and dare the
most dangerous of African tribes. To-
ward the middle Of April he mustered
his force and started out for the desert
march around the base of Kilimanjaro.
He had to take double precautions
against the deserlions of his men, fol-
thew knew that their last chance had
arrived. They had hardly got out
across the Lumi, and were encamped
near a beautiful cascade where the
Habali falls over lava and conglome-
rate, when word was brought that a
war party of 1000 Nasal were directly
in front of them. "This alarming in
telligence," says Mr.. Thomson, ''pro'
duced no small CONSERVATION in ou1
minds. 1t would be bad enough in
all conscience to come in contact with
them in their own country. But to
meet them on the warpath, with heated
blood and without any restraint, was &
matter still more serious. How were
we 20 meet the emergency? To retreat
meant the desertion OF the men. Te
advance would be to fight and be dis,
perscd like so many hares, if nothing
worse happened to u.s."
| One resource remained. To pu
themselves under the protection G
Mandara, border chief notorious fol
his tyranny. Accordingly, leaving the
camp protected by a bona or thorr
fence, and, taking only two of his mos
trusty followers, he started off on foul
hours march tbrough the dense jungle
The interview was amusing He founc
he redoubtable chief, an aristocratic.
looking man, with an intellectual face
and ore eagle eye, sitting among q
group of princely Africans, all clad in
voluminous folds of ochre-dyed cotton
He was received IN silence. At last he
addressed Mandara in words of diplo
matte hattery, saying that, having beer
compelled by the Nasal to leave the
trade route and camp in his dominiens
and having heard much about his grea
) achievements as warrior and of hi
princely character and fondness o
travellers from the coast, he could no
possibly pass SO near him without Civ
ing himself the pleasure of visit. Hi
harangue was interrupted by a long
drawn whistle such as is ''generally EN-
ployed by vulgar little boys to expires
unbounded astonishment or incrcd
ulty." 1t was not snake, however
which drew the Princes gaze 10 tn
visitors feet, but his boots. The in
terview was pleasant and lasted I'll
) sunset, when they were left alone t.
, pass the night in the shed.
THE PRINCES FAREM.
, Mandara lived in a quadrangula
house, plastered with clay and dung
| ,ro,,,,J which u,ara IicnocaI the copi