THE WESTERN BEND 229 



evidence to outsiders ; nevertheless another interesting- 

 experience befell. Baraka and I had just sat down 

 to prepare and stow some specimens of sand-grouse, 

 when two young women, bearing water-jars, appeared 

 on the scene. Of the twain, one, it may be, was 

 precocious ; for on perceiving us, she at once came up 

 and entered into voluble conversation. I replied as the 

 occasion seemed to demand since my fair interlocutor 



TCHAGRA, OR RED- WINGED BUSH-SHRIKE (Telephonus remigialii). 



was distinctly shapely and presumably (to Shilluk eye) 

 a belle her more demure companion hanging back, a 

 few yards away, among- the bush. Presently on my 

 invitation, my vivacious visitor set herself down alongside 

 and with a sort of childish pride expatiated on the beauty 

 of her scanty adornments. There was a necklet of shells 

 and snakes' vertebrae, sundry bracelets evolved from 

 ivory, animal-sinews or fibres. These gems, one by one, 

 she took off for my more complete appreciation that, I 

 presume, being the root-idea. To reciprocate her 

 friendliness, I begged her to stand while I made the 



