354 
KKPOKT UrOX PHYSICAL CHAKACTKUS OF NIJiOTlC XFOKOIO TIUIHOS 
Habits and 
customs 
Salutation 
Snake- magic 
TAIiLE VI,—BURUN TllIBE. AT SAHAHIR {continual) 
Limbs— 
1 
Aver¬ 
age 
Upper arm ieugth 
... 310 
330 
330 
31.0 
340 
33.0 
330 
340 
— 
330 
350 
Forearm length ... 
... -19.0 
3-20 
:iH» 
*295 
320 
3-20 
31.0 
330 
— 
295 
320 
— 
Thigh length 
... 430 
48.0 
470 
40(t 
470 
.000 
475 
510 
— 
510 
51(1 
— 
Leg length 
... 4-20 
470 
400 
4.00 
460 
480 
47.0 
.010 
— 
510 
510 
— 
Span of arms 
... 1800 
limi) 
1900 
1820 
1940 
19.00 
1940 
2000 
— 
1940 
2000 
— 
Stature 
Hair, usually nil. 
... 1700 
1810 
1800 
1730 
1800 
1890 
1800 
1900 
1900 
1900 
18-20 
Notes on Customs, etc., of the Bueuns and othek TKiiiES 
The following notes were made by Dr. Pirrie and are reproduced verbatim :— 
“ Unlike the river Negroids, who inhabit plains and marshes, the Buruns dwell in dense 
forests. Their physical apiiearances, habits and customs, and their weapons, are quite 
distinct from those of the river type, from whom they have undoubtedly descended. They 
live in small huts widely separated, have no cattle, use the bow and poisoned arrow, 
and also carry a throwing-stick which sometimes closely apjn-oaches the typical 
boomerang. 
“Their dialect is closely related to that of the Nuers, but in their physical appearance 
they seem shorter and better built. 
“ The form of salutation practised by these tribes varies considerably. One has heard 
of the habit, a somewhat objectionable one, among the Bahr-El-Ghazal tribes of spitting 
on the face of a friend as indicative of the strongest affection. The Nuer tribe is also 
addicted to this custom, and it requires the utmost tact to escape from such unpleasant 
attentions, without injuring their susce23tibilities. Personal ex^Jerience has taught me to be 
on the alert to anticipate the bestowal of the customary token of their good-will, and at 
the first sign of their intention to greet me thus I hold out my hand, which becomes the 
reci^hent of the salute. Among all well-educated Nuers, Dinkas, and Shilluks, however, 
the ordinary method of salutation is to hold the outstretched hand jjalm forwards, either 
over the head or above the level of the eyes, while at the same time recreating the word 
‘ Ubaba.’ According to Wilson, the greeting is ‘ Yubah Ba-wotich,’ but the former is 
what one usually hears. 
“ The Burun has a different greeting. Before one comes into close 2 >roximity to a Burun 
he says in a distinct voice ‘ Mooka,’ which means ‘ friend ’; thereucron the word 
‘ Mooka ’ is to be returned, and their creculiar hand-shake follows. This is effected by 
both crarties mutually snapcring the first and second fingers together against the thumb. 
Were it not the fact that the Burun smears himself with vegetable oil and war-jraint, this 
form of greeting would be wholly unobjectionable; as it is, however, he invariably leaves 
an imcrression which the average white man is slow to acrcrreciate. 
“ Another extraordinary form of greeting I occasionally found amongst the Buruns was 
the ‘ afoo ’ (in Arabic). This is cjossibly of Arab origin. It consists in making the third- 
finger knuckles crack over the head of the saluted. This is done in jierfect silence as 
regards screech, and each walks away without saying a word. It is also jjractised ucjon the 
sick, and is sucaposed to afford them material relief. 
“The Dinkas, Shilluks, and Nuers have an interesting snake-magic. I am inclined to 
think that the Dinkas CJfactise it most. It is rather snake-magic than snake-worshij), 
though to a casual observer, imbued with the mystery which surrounds the subject, it 
would aj) 2 )ear as though the Dinkas actually worship! their snakes. The Dinka is remarkably 
