第12部分(第1/8 頁)

The　dance　then　menced　and　was　a　wonderful　performance。　pany　after　pany　charged　past　looking　for　all　the　world　like　great　fierce　birds　swooping　on　their　prey。　Assegais　extended　and　shields　on　high；　they　flitted　backwards　and　forwards；　acpanying　every　moment　with　a　shrill　hiss　something　like　the　noise　which　thousands　of　angry　snakes　would　make；　only　shriller；　a　sound　impossible　to　describe　but　not　easy　to　forget。　It　would　vary：　—　now　it　is　a　troop　of　lions；　now　a　pack　of　wild　dogs　hounding　their　prey　to　death。

Then　forth　leaped　warrior　after　warrior：　advanced；　challenged；　leapt　five　feet　into　the　air；　was　down；　was　up；　was　between　his　own　legs；　was　anywhere　and　everywhere；　and　was　met　with　this　sibilating　applause　which　rose　and　fell　and　rose　again；　but　always　in　perfect　time。

By　this　time　they　were　well　excited；　even　the　little　boys　of　the　tribe　had　got　shields　and　joined　themselves　on　at　the　end；　while　the　beauties；　and　some　of　them　were　not　unworthy　of　the　name；　took　hold　of　long　branches　and　went　undulating　about　（the　only　word　to　describe　their　motion）　urging　the　warriors　on。

Presently　forth　sprang　the　heir…apparent；　and　in　a　moment　the　air　was　filled　with　this　fierce　sibilation　and　every　warrior　roused　into　wild　activity。

It　was　a　splendidly　barbaric　sight。　The　singing　was　the　finest　part　of　it。　The　last　royal　salute　was　also　imposing；　it　is　made　by　striking　the　assegais　on　the　shield。　It　mences　with　a　low　murmur　like　that　of　the　sea；　growi