The wrestling was succeeded by a dance, in which many performers
assisted, all of whom were provided with little bells, which were
fastened to their legs and arms; and here, too, the drum regulated
their motions. It was beaten with a crooked stick, which the
drummer held in his right hand, occasionally using his left to
deaden the sound, and thus vary the music. The drama is likewise
applied on these occasions to keep order among the spectators, by
imitating the sound of certain Mandingo sentences. For example,
when the wrestling-match is about to begin, the drummer strikes what
is understood to signify ali bae see (sit all down), upon which the
spectators immediately seat themselves; and when the combatants are
to begin, he strikes amuta! amuta! (take hold! take hold!)

In the course of the evening I was presented, by way of refreshment,
with a liquor, which tasted so much like the strong beer of my
native country (and very good beer too), as to induce me to inquire
into its composition; and I learnt, with some degree of surprise,
that it was actually made from corn which had been previously
malted, much in the same manner as barley is malted in Great
Britain. A root yielding a grateful bitter was used in lieu of
hops, the name of which I have forgotten; but the corn which yields
the wort is the holcus spicatus of botanists.

Early in the morning (the 12th) I found that one of the elephant-
hunters had absconded with the money he had received from me in part
of wages; and in order to prevent the other two from following his
example, I made them instantly fill their calabashes (or gourds)
with water; and as the sun rose, I entered the wilderness that
separates the kingdoms of Woolli and Bondou.