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Mr. Richard Staples-Browne,



DIARY OF BIRDS SEEN ON THE WHITE NILE.


By Richard Staples-Browne.


Part III.


(Concluded from page 185^.


P'eb. 15th. At sunrise we started on our homeward journey,

and at 8.30 a.111. landed at a village of Bari negroes, where we

obtained some bananas. As we had had 110 fresh fruit for over

a week these were much appreciated. We got back to Gon-

dokoro without much difficulty, but from there to Lado we had

an uncomfortable passage owing to the swiftness of the current

and the frequency of shallows. A short distance north of

Mongalla I saw eight Marabou Storks (.Leptoptilus crumeniferus).

Towards evening we were obliged to tie up, a few miles south of

Kiro, on account of the difficulty of navigation. About 9 p.m.

we heard the distant sound of a tom-tom, and, meeting some

Baris in the scrub, we were guided through the forest to a village

where the natives were dancing in honour of the full moon. We

walked for about three quarters of an hour, disturbing a Hip¬

popotamus near the river, who straightway made for the water

with much grunting. The scene at night was very beautiful, and

the trees and parasitic creepers showed up to great advantage.

We heard some elephants trumpeting in the distance. Arrived

at the village, we were welcomed by the Sheikh, and then

witnessed the dance which was more energetic than elegant.

The whole village took part—men, women and children—beating

time with small bones which they carried, after the style of

Christy minstrels. A large fire burning in the midst gave a

weird effect to the dancers. One of our cabin boys so far forgot

himself as to join in. Later, we went through the village and

saw a large flock of goats which were penned up for the night

in a large wooden cage, in the middle of which a fire burned

as a protection, I was told, against wild beasts. We returned to

the boat shortly after midnight.


Feb. 16th. We started at daybreak, and early in the morn¬

ing I saw some Baboons (Papio anubis). We wooded at Sheikh

Tomb6, and, shortly after leaving that place, we went aground

on a sand-bank, where we remained for over two hours. Here



