EXPLORATION OF THE RIVER YEI 367 



speeding through a flat country of mimosa woods broken at 

 times by open grass-stretches where large herds of cattle 

 and sheep roamed at will. This was the land of the Dinkas. 



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Often along the sloping banks we came upon the brilliant 

 green of young tobacco plantations and passed flocks of 

 goats and sheep watering at the riverside ; on our approach 

 the goatherds ran away, driving their flocks into the thorn 

 bushes with many cries. 



Two days from Avurra we reached the first Dinka village, 

 called A'Todt and situated a few hundred yards from the 

 bank in among some trees. Presently, to our astonished 

 eyes, tall, ghostly white men, with long spears, emerged 

 out of the grove. The " boys " stared, transfixed. Truly it 

 was a weird spectacle, and I felt I had been repaid for all the 



