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Ostrich Riders of Africa
(49) pranced around. Large-eyed ostriches, threw them away, which with lightning not in the least shy, stood near-by. speed the ostriches devoured.
At once a shrill whistle is heard, and A Somali woman approached an officer camels, ostriches, sheep and goats scamper of the army and demanded a cigar; the pell-mell to a corner of the enclosure, gentleman offered her his case, which she and in the next moment the horses are took, emptied and then returned to the saddled, the men mount, and with only owner. The next moment six Somali the large toe in the stirrup gallop wildly enjoyed the officer's fine Havanas; other around. A second whistle: the camels spectators supplied the increased demand, are saddled and mounted; free and with- and in a few minutes the whole of Somali out any support the Somali race over the land was enveloped in dense clouds of ground, and prove that their long-legged smoke. The baby returned and, holding animals are extraordinarily swift.
Riding the big Birds. out a hand, exclaimed, "Money, money!"
Throwing the Dagger and Javelin.
She was given a penny, but throwing it Then, begin their military exercises. away, she cried out, "Too little, too little!" They throw their javelins at a target, She was given a dime, and then the other nine out of ten of the spears hitting the hand was extended, and the child cried, bull's-eye. The men then divide into two "Good, good, more!" The next moment parties to combat with dagger, javelin the whole group rushed forward to the and shield. They show a most wonderful spectators, and cried, "Money, money!" and extraordinary skill in this practice.
Graceful dances, accompanied by songs, At last the manager gives the signal are shown. They have many poets and for the closing and crowning feature of innumerable songs. The rhyme is monoto- the performance, the riding of ostriches. nous, ending generally with an "a," the The birds are acquainted with this signal alliteration being clearly perceptible. and run hither and thither, until they are During the intermissions the men, finally driven to a corner and surrounded. women and children approach the spec- Several escape while the others are tators and beg, the Somali being so great mounted. The mounting is done in the in this respect that his land is designated following manner: One man takes hold of by the Arabs "belad wa issi," "land, give an ostrich's beak and pulls the head down; me something." A three-year-old child another man throws his arms about the came to one of the spectators, put bird's breast, and a third jumps on the a finger to the man's pocket and in bird's back, takes hold of its wings, and elegant German asked for something. the next moment the bird is away with The man gave him an apple, the child its rider. It is obvious that the funniest hardly grasped the fruit when the father positions occur, but seldom do the riders stepped up, snatched it away and began part company with their steeds, only disto eat it. While he still munched the mounting when the birds have become fruit, he asked the man its name; being entirely docile. Our illustration is an extold "apple," the whole tribe stretched cellent representation of this sport. out their hands, crying, "Apple, apple!" Everywhere the Ostrich is regarded In two seconds the whole supply was ex- with peculiar interest. Ostrich feathers hausted; prunes were then handed the have long been an article of trade, and savages, but the Somali craving apples everyone must admit their peculiar love. liness for the use to which they are put. My young readers will understand that While somewhat expensive, those who although some tribes ride the Ostrich, can afford them are generally fond of ob- this bird is not likely to become a beast taining them for adornment. of burden. It would seem very strange Attempts have been made in some to us, who now see equestrians galloping parts of this country to domesticate and away on their horses, to look at a party raise the Ostrich, especially in California. of pleasure seekers mounted upon There you may find Ostrich farms, and ostriches, out for a ten-miles ride. 2 2 Beckmann Dieselda
