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When the salaams were finished and rum and red cloth had been given to the headmen, the crowd formed a great circle. Men climbed trees, babies were mounted on their fathers' shoulders and there was a sudden hush as a hundred warriors came dashing into the ring. It was a dazzling sight; brass plates glittered in the sun, hornbill feathers, scarlet plumes and black tresses of hair tossed against the blue sky. It was a riot of black, white and scarlet and shining lithe (142) brown bodies. At first there was a stampede of thumping shields, clashing daos and plates, then gradually the warriors formed a line and moved slowly round posturing in slow-motion warlike attitudes. |
