1907.] on Across Widpst Africa. 785 



until we reached the Nile at Taufikia, one of the dreariest spots on 

 earth. A garrison of Sudanese soldiers was stationed there. 



On getting near the Nile one finds the Shiluk, a tril)e formerly 

 much more numerous and powerful than now. The incursions of the 

 Dervishes, the Egyptians, and slave-merchants, have played havoc 

 among them. Their influence must at one time liave been consider- 

 able, at least if we are to judge by their language, which, with certain 

 variations, is understood and spoken by many distant tribes towards 

 the east as far as the foot of the Abyssinian plateau, and, I am told, 

 also as far south as the Victoria Nyanza. They divide themselves 

 into two great families : the Quagnaret and the 0-chiolla. The 

 0-chiolla recognise their fraternity with the Nuer but principally with 

 the Denca. 



The nucleus of the Shiluk population is upon the north bank of 

 the Nile, between lake No and the mouth of the river Sobat. Also 

 small settlements, some few miles up the Sobat. 



The land of the Shiluk is a vast plain, smothered in grass, and cut 

 up into myriads of channels and depressions which get filled with 

 water during the rising of the Nile. Wood for construction there 

 is practically none, if the Dum palm — very scarce — is excepted, of 

 which one sees one or two here and there near Sbiluk villages. The 

 HigUg or Bahmites cegyptiaca and the Delel) and Dum are about the 

 only fructiferous palms in the Shiluk country. The flowers on land 

 are few and ugly, but not so upon the water and along the river 

 banks, where lotuses and white Hlies are to be seen. During the 

 rainy season the climate is unhealthy. 



The Quagnaret and the 0-chiolla occasionally intermarry. It is 

 seldom that a Shiluk can allow himself more than one wife, as women 

 in the Shiluk country are an expensive luxury. The near relatives of 

 the girl expect in exchange of her value no less than three or four 

 oxen or cows and at least forty sheep or goats, besides sundry articles. 

 Then, when a Shiluk goes to bargain for a wife with her relatives, 

 he has to bring an extra half-dozen goats and sheep to present, one 

 to the father of the girl, the others to the assembled members of the 

 family. By means of pieces of straw laid upon the floor to facilitate 

 counting, the number of oxen, cows and goats to be paid is agreed 

 upon, while the ladies of the house produce vessel after vessel of 

 merissct (an intoxicating beverage) in order to cheer all present. 

 The business part of the transaction being over, if the girl consents 

 she is presented with a bracelet of brass or ivory, which is passed over 

 her wrist. Fellows have been known to take a wife on credit, but 

 these rash individuals heavily mortgage their happiness, and even run 

 the risk of losing their better half should a wealthier purchaser 

 present himself on the scene prepared to pay hard cash. Among the 

 0-chiolla we find the habit so common in Central Africa of removing 

 four front teeth of the lower jaw, but the Quagnaret do not indulge 

 in this practice. 



