Condition 
of the 
Buruns 
32.S KKroRT T’rnx physical CHAKACTEKS of NILOTIC NEGItOin TRIBES 
'• (leoijniphi.ml Feninres. The chief feature of the country is the pair of lakes called 
Tigli and Worm. The name Dora is better known, and refers to the villages on their 
northern bank. Lake Tigli is about half a mile and Lake W’orru about a mile, square. 
Each lake has a high baidv about 15 feet to the northern side, but they tend to fade into 
marshland to the south. The lakes are of the nature of diverticula on the Yabus and 
Robat Rivers. (Fig. 106.) 
“ The river called Sobat issuing 
from the lakes pursues a general S.W. 
direction. It is 40-50 yds. broad, 
.3-4-5 feet deep, and flows about 
3^ miles per hour. After a short 
course it breaks up into a labyrinth 
of khors, from which one stream, called 
‘ Lidigo,’ issues. This is narrow 
(5-10 yards), deep (4-5 feet), and 
flows at about the rate of 3 or 3^ miles jier hour. The last I saw of this stream was at 
Mwalla, where it was running away almost due south, but natives report that it turns 
westwards again ; it may be that this stream is that known at the other end as the Khor 
Adar, in which case the Yabus may be said to flow into the Nile. There is no other 
possible connection to the north. 
“ The natives reported that these streams never ran dry. This is probable, as at the 
time of my visit the rains were approaching and still there was a good volume of water. 
The Buruns themselves never use the water for navigation. 
“ Xeighhoiti-iiKj Tribes. On the west, the Dinkas, separated by an op)en plain of 
2-24 days. On the north the Fungs and Hamegs. On the south the Nuers, said to 
be 3 days distant. On the east the Currara, 4 i Burtas, I 4 days; .\byssiuiaus 
and Gallas, 2-3 days. 
“ Gondition of the People. Except the northerly part of the tribe, the Buruns are 
sheikhless. They have not recovered from the effects of the raiding. There is not a 
head of cattle in the whole country, and their goats and sheep are of the poorest. They 
have few women, they are overrun with syphilis, and they offer poor resistance to disease. 
I passed through two epidemics of smallpox, which more than decimated them. In this 
connection it is interesting to note that they bury their dead in the floor of the hut, with 
what results may be imagined ! 
“ The Buruns are addicted to merissa.* There is a system of merissa-meetings in 
neighbouring villages, by means of which each man attends about three in the week. Fight¬ 
ing is common at these orgies, the poisoned arrow being the usual implement employed. I 
consider that the lack of women has largely to do with their addiction to drink, facilitated 
by the superabundance of their grain. 
“ Dialects. The Burun dialect is more closely related to the Nuer than to the Dinka 
dialect. The Fungs sp®ak the Burun tongue ; the Hamegs speak Fung and Hameg, 
which is said to be derived from the Nuba. The Burta language is different from 
the Hameg. 
“ Currara. In my opinion the Currara are not Buruns, though I was informed at Kaili 
that they were administered under that name. Their dialect is totally different and may 
be allied to that of the Hamegs. I could trace no philological connection between the 
Currara and Burun tongues." 
Dora 
FH. hii—SketL'lj showjufi thief geoisraplm al features of Biiruu country 
Merissa is a native beer made from dura (millet). 
