第53章

AbouSaoodorderedhispeopletobringanumberofstraw-roofsfromhisstation，toformaprotectionfortheofficers。Themenquicklyhousedthemselvesintemporaryhuts，andthecattlewereplacedforthenightinaregularamphitheatreofrock，whichformedanexcellentposition。

On8thMarch，Ireviewedthetroops，andhavinggiventhenativeswarningofmyintention，Ihadasham-fightandattackoftheFatikomountain。Havingfiredseveralrocketsatasupposedenemy，thetroopsadvancedintwocompaniestothenorthandsouthextremitiesofthemountain，whichtheyscaledwithgreatactivity，andjoinedtheirforcesonthecleanplateauofgraniteonthesummitoftheridge。Theeffectwasverygood，andappearedtodelightthenatives，whohadassembledinconsiderablenumbers。Afterfiringseveralvolleys，thetroopsdescendedthehill，andmarchedback，withthebandplaying。

Themusicofourbandbeingproducedsimplybyaconsiderablenumberofbugles，drums，andcymbals，aidedbyalargemilitarybass-drum，mightnothavebeenthoughtfirst-rateinEurope，butinAfricaitwasirresistible。

Thenativesarepassionatelyfondofmusic；andIbelievethesafestwaytotravelinthosewildcountrieswouldbetoplaythecornet，ifpossiblewithoutceasing，whichwouldinsureasafepassage。ALondonorgan-grinderwouldmarchthroughCentralAfricafollowedbyanadmiringandenthusiasticcrowd，who，ifhistuneswerelively，wouldformadancingescortofthemostuntiringmaterial。

Asmytroopsreturnedtotheirquarters，withthebandplayingrathercheerfulairs，weobservedthewomenracingdownfromtheirvillages，andgatheringfromalldirectionstowardsthecommoncentre。Astheyapproachednearer，thecharmsofmusicwereoverpowering，and，haltingforaninstant，theyassumedwhattheyconsideredthemostgracefulattitudes，andthendanceduptotheband。

Inashorttimemybuglerscouldhardlyblowtheirinstrumentsforlaughing，attheextraordinaryeffectoftheirperformance。Afantasticcrowdsurroundedthemastheyhaltedinourpositionamongtherocks；

andeveryminuteaddedtotheirnumber。

ThewomenthroughouttheShooliareentirelynaked，thustheeffectofafemalecrowd，boundingmadlyaboutasmusicalenthusiasts，wasveryextraordinary。Eventhebabieswerebroughtouttodance，andtheseinfants，strappedtotheirmothers’backs，andcoveredwithpumpkinshells，likeyoungtortoises，werejoltedaboutwithouttheslightestconsiderationfortheweaknessoftheirnecks，bytheirinfatuatedmothers。

Asusual，amongalltribesinCentralAfrica，theoldwomenwereevenmoredetermineddancersthantheyounggirls。SeveraloldVenusesweremakingthemselvesextremelyridiculous，astheysometimesdoincivilizedcountrieswhenattemptingtheallurementsofyoungerdays。

Themendidnotshareinthedance，butsquattedupontherocksingreatnumberstoadmirethemusic，andtowitnesstheeffortsoftheirwivesanddaughters。

ThemenofShooliandFatikoarethebestproportionedthatIhaveseen；

withouttheextremeheightoftheShillooksorDinkas，theyaremuscularandwellknit，andgenerallytheirfacesarehandsome。

Thewomenwereinclinedtoashortstature，butwereverystrongandcompact。Itwassingular，thatthroughoutthegreatShoolicountry，ofwhichFatikoissimplyadistrict，whilethewomenareperfectlynaked，themenarepartiallyclothedwiththeskinofanantelope，slungacrosstheshoulders，andcoveringthelowerpartofthebodylifeascarf。InothercountriesthatIhadpassed，themenwerequitenaked，whilethewomenweremoreorlesscovered。

Afterthedance，Iwasvisitedbyseveralnativeswhohadknownmeinformeryears，amongwhomwasmyoldguide，Gimoro，whohadfirstledmetoUnyoro。AnotherexcellentmannamedShoelinowgavemealltheintelligenceofthecountry。BoththesemenspokeArabic。

Itwasarepetitionoftheoldstory。Thecountrywashalf-ruinedbytheactsofAbouSaood’speople。Thenativeswereafraidtoresisttheminthisneighbourhood，aseveryadjacentcountryhadbeenplundered，andthewomenandchildrencarriedoff。AbouSaoodhadnotexpectedthatI

couldleaveGondokoro；buthehadtoldtheShoolinativestoattackmeifIshoulda

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