Through Uganda to Mount Elgon . almost surrounds Masaba, and gives thecountry an uninviting appearance; but nosooner has this been crossed than Masaba isseen to be a land of plenty, beauty, and,because of its primitive simplicity, a land ofwonder. The long elephant-grass of Uganda andUsoga is absent, and as far as the eye canreach almost every foot of ground seemsto be under cultivation, whilst innumer-able clusters of houses are visible in everyvalley and on what appear to be inaccessiblehills. We left the last Government post more thantwenty miles west of Masaba, but nowhere elsein Africa di
Through Uganda to Mount Elgon . almost surrounds Masaba, and gives thecountry an uninviting appearance; but nosooner has this been crossed than Masaba isseen to be a land of plenty, beauty, and,because of its primitive simplicity, a land ofwonder. The long elephant-grass of Uganda andUsoga is absent, and as far as the eye canreach almost every foot of ground seemsto be under cultivation, whilst innumer-able clusters of houses are visible in everyvalley and on what appear to be inaccessiblehills. We left the last Government post more thantwenty miles west of Masaba, but nowhere elsein Africa did I receive a more hearty welcomeor meet with a more kindly disposed peoplethan in this country, where the people wereliving as they had lived right along from thepast ages, and are described by the late Com-missioner of Uganda, Sir H. H. Johnston, asperhaps the wildest people to be found any-where within the limits of the Uganda Protec-torate. They are wilder even than the Congodwarfs. Such a character almost appalled one, but. AN OLD MASABA Primitive People and Customs 271 four years of life among them proved themnot only very kindly but very capable ofdevelopment. A primitive, pastoral, Bantu-speaking people,they are known as Bamasaba or Bagishu, butdistinguish themselves as a race apart fromothers by the name Basani, , men, whilstall men of uncircumcised nations are calledBasindi, , boys. There is an annual festival of circumcision,when all youths who wish to be recognised asfull members of the clan, warriors, and mento be reckoned with, parade, dressed in wardress, and march from village to village tomake public their brave decision. They are feted by young and old for daysbefore the actual operation, and they visit thesacred grove of the clan, and, having madetheir offerings, receive through their witch-doctor the blessing of the spirits. The final operation is carried out by adepts,who receive a fowl from each lad. This operation is performed in pub
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