206 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
chiefs remained all night in camp, their spears of course 
being taken from them. Lake Abaya, they told me, lay far 
to the north, and it was very difficult to reach; but they 
said they would provide guides as far as the Amara, a peo- 
ple living ona mountain not far from the lake, and from 
whom the Boran bought cloth and grain. 
The lake, I thought, was probably the Lake Aballa, that 
has been marked in so many places on the maps of North- 
east Africa, and I made up my mind that at least I would 
make a good endeavor to reach it and settle its position. 
BORAN WHIP. 
Our road would take us among the Aseba people, and con- 
sequently three Aseba chiefs were assigned to lead us 
through their country. These were fine-looking, intelli- 
gent savages, of a deep mahogany color. 
The Aseba and the Karayu Boran, in whose country we 
were now camped, are the richest and most powerful of all 
the Boran. All of them carry whips of rhinoceros hide, 
with bits of giraffe and zebra skins hanging from the han- 
dles, as well as bracelets composed of pieces of sheep, goat, 
and ox skins. The giraffe and zebra skins are trophies of 
the chase, while the bits of sheepskin are worn in commem- 
oration of visits a man has paid his neighbors, when an 
animal has been killed for his benefit. 
