96 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



dived into the reed-beds and brought up the root of a reed 

 called " Ambui," of which they made their own meal. It is a 

 succulent, milky-looking root, and the verdict of the " boys " 

 that it was good sent the Budumas back for more. 



We arrived at Karra-ragga in the evening. It is a big 

 island, some four miles long and over two miles wide. All 

 round its shores rose dark screens of tall maria that occasion- 

 ally gave way for a glimpse of the interioi where cattle were 

 to be seen roaming over the grass stretches that were inter- 

 spersed with clumps of mimosa. The luxuriant bright green 

 was a refreshing sight to our eyes after the sandy plains of 

 Bornu. We pitched our camp close to the landing-place, 

 promising the Kachella that we would pay him a visit on 

 the following day at his town, which was situated on the 

 other side of the island. In the meantime some of his women 

 came over to us with large calabashes of milk and liquid 

 butter, and a young bullock, a gift to me from the Kachella, 

 was slaughtered to feed the " boys." On the next day I 

 was escorted to the village with ceremony and all the women 

 turned out to gaze at me. 



The Budumas speak Kanuri. The men are tall, often 

 over 6 ft. in height, with well-developed heads, high fore- 

 heads and blunt noses. They wear the loose-fitting dark- 

 blue toga of native cloth common throughout Bornu, which 

 they get in exchange for their fish and potash at the Kowa- 

 Baga. They are divided into many separate communities. 

 The principal ones, inhabiting the islands of the Shari basin, 

 are Bujia, Madogojia, Marbullua, Media and Kuri. Each of 

 these is ruled by a Kachella, and all are under a king who 

 is called the Karammi. The women are small and in features 



