They never seem to tire of the sport, and acquire amazing dexterity at it.

At the age of nine or ten they abandon the reeds and adopt a heavier spear, with a wooden shaft and a point of hard wood or bone.

All kinds of interesting competitions are constantly organised to test the boys' skill, the most valued prizes being the approbation of parents and elders.
A small ring of hide, or creeper, is suspended from the branch of a tree, and the competitors have to throw their spears clean through it at a distance of twenty paces.

All the chiefs and fighting men of the tribe assemble to witness these competitions, and occasionally some little award is made in the shape of anklets and bangles of small shells, strung together with human hair.

The boys are initiated into the ranks of the "men and warriors" when they reach the age of about seventeen.
This initiation ceremony, by the way, is of a very extraordinary character.