326 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

Bey, and as my own inquiries confirm its accuracy, I can repeat it with every confidence.

It was at this station that we saw the curious Wanyoro dance. I was sitting in my hut at night, when a messenger came from Amfina asking me to go over to see him. I was very glad to accept his invitation, and followed the guide. I found Amfina sitting in front of his hut, surrounded by three or four of his head men, with a huge bowl of merissa (native beer) in front of him. He told me that his people had made friends with our porters, and as they had a good brew of merissa, they were intending to make a night of it and have a dance ; so he thought I might like to see it. I thanked him, sat down, and lit my pipe. He gave me some merissa, a sour, muddy compound, not a very agreeable beverage, and entered into conversation with me about the manners and customs of his people. After which, at my request, they danced their wardance to the accompaniment of drums and the clapping of hands. Seizing their spears with their right hand and their shields with their left, they advanced with a crouching kind of spring in a zigzag towards Amfina, and then retired, uttering their war-cry. Those who have seen the performance of the friendly Zulus will be able to form a good idea of this dance, which is very similar. They then, for their own pleasure, danced the peculiar dance of the tribe, which is a wonderful performance, but