214 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

In dancing the men and women keep separate. There are two sorts of dances, one of which consists of a shuffle performed singly or in groups by boys. The feet are never raised off the ground, and the performer advances or recedes, shuffling along, the knees slightly bent and holding the arms stiffly by the sides, with the hands stretched out, the palms being held downwards, while the whole body is writhed about, every muscle being brought into action. It is a most disgusting performance, as the dancer looks exactly as if in an epileptic fit. It is excessively exhausting, and cannot be kept up for more than two or three minutes consecutively. The other manner of dancing is more like the European style, for although the performers dance singly, and not in couples, there are regular steps, and there is a musical accompaniment.

The Waganda are very fond of singing, which is generally accompanied on the nanga or harp. There are regular professional singers, like the minstrels of the Middle Ages, who are retained by the king and chiefs, and who are always in attendance at the court.

When singing they frequently extemporise, their language being specially suitable for this purpose, bringing in allusions to passing events or to persons who may be present. Their songs are of several descriptions, some being in praise of the king or great chiefs, others war-songs, and others again dirges or laments for dead chiefs and warriors. I give two