232 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



have no method of signalling from one to the other 

 of the islands, particularly as the system of signalling 

 is in general use throughout this part of Africa. 



Despite the fact that some of the compounds contain 

 tiny plots of kitchen-garden where tobacco is grown, 

 the sandy soil affords little nourishment to plant or 

 beast. The cattle are therefore sent for pasturage to 

 cow-towns — islands that have richer vegetation, prob- 

 ably because they are flat and therefore more exposed 

 to inundation. They are uninhabited, except by herds- 

 men, who come occasionally to stay in tiny little shiel- 

 ings. These stand but 4 to 5 feet in 

 height, and face south - west, so as to 

 escape the piercing north-east wind. 



The cattle are humpless and some- 

 what like Ayrshires. A great deal of 

 attention is devoted to their appearance 

 — their ears are frilled, and for full dress 

 they wear large papyrus necklaces with 

 pendants attached. Certain of the East 

 African tribes deck their cattle in the 

 same way, and so did the poorer 

 Egyptians centuries ago. The cows we 

 see represented on ancient papyri are 

 Papyrus Fillets, wearing elaborate jewelled fillets. When 

 milk is wanted a messenger is sent to 

 the cow-town to obtain it. Goats and a few wizened 

 little fowls remain on the principal islands, where 

 they pick up a precarious living as best they may. 



The cow-towns made a great appeal to our imagina- 

 tions, and we therefore determined to stop at one 

 named Kika, some four hours distant from Bulariga ; 

 and there — in the language of the " boys " — once more 



