2-888-391 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The African Exhibition, at the Cosmorama, Regent-Street, 1850. 'These individuals are...an Amaponda woman from the south, and "Larcher", a Zoolu chief...From their performances our Artist has selected a nature dance, such as is common daily during the ripening of the grain...The Zoolu is dancing before his wife, and stamping most violently with his feet on the floor, at the same time that both sing a wild and monotonous chant, the burthen of which is "Azshee, azshee" whilst the wife, with her body bent forward, keeps time by clapping her hands. This dance is a considerable exertion; and after it the chief is evidently exhausted...Homcaumba, the Amaponda wife of the Zoolu...is about twenty-five years of age; her costume is of cowskins; and her short hair is rolled into small tags, kept stiff by means of red clay, rubbed into them as freely as any vendor of bear's-grease could desire'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.