THE GAMBIL AND KOMA TEIBES. II7 



by Denka and other tribes, who have sought refuge at the foot of the hills ao-ainst 

 the slavers of the lower Sobat. These fugitives have intermarried and formed new 

 tribes differing little from the original stock. The level plains, watered by the 

 Bako, are inhabited by the Yambo or Gambo, whom d'Abbadie believes to be a 

 branch of the Shilluks, while Schuver affiliates them to the Denkas. Farther on 

 the land rises into plateaux inhabited by the Kirims, Malas, Ishings, and Matze 

 Maleas, said to be of Negro origin. One of these tribes is said to consist of dwarfs 

 not exceeding 4 feet 7 inches in height. 



A community of the warlike Gambil people recently occupied the skirts of the 

 vast Wallega forest fringing the western foot of the Abyssinian highlands, under 

 the same latitude as the Nile and Sobat confluence. The chief river traversing 

 their territory to join the Sobat, they named the Komanji, or " Cow Eiver," 

 because their herds, during the dry season, finding no pasturage except on its 

 banks, crowded down to the water's edge. To call down rain the Gambil used to 

 throw a flayed cow into the stream, believing that the farther the blood spread, 

 the more copious would be the rainfall. Thev were one of the Nilotic Neo-ro 

 nations most remarkable for their bodily strength. Their distinctive tribal sio-ns 

 were two gazelle or goat horns fastened to the forehead, and they were also 

 accustomed to extract the two incisors of the lower jaw. But of this tribe there 

 are now very few left, the exterminating wars created by the Egyptian "civilisers" 

 having extended even to the plain of Komanji. Robbed of their cattle by the 

 Arab traders, the Denkas of the Nile fell upon their Gambil neighbours to restock 

 their farms. A ruthless warfare, waged for the purpose of plunder, ensued between 

 the two nations, in which the Gambil were defeated. Some fled eastwards to the 

 upland Abyssinian valleys, and sought refuge with the Legas, a Galla people, 

 who received them merely to reduce them to slavery. Others escaped to the south, 

 a few only still wandering about their native plains. Their capital, Komanjok, is 

 nothing but a ruin, like their old market-town Kepiel, where the Legas bartered 

 their metal wares and glass trinkets. 



Better protected by their mountains, the Komas, occupying the north-east portion 

 of the former Gambil territory, south of the Upper Yal affluents, still form a con- 

 siderable nation. The Arabs have as yet visited them only in the character of 

 merchants, and the " Turk " is not sufficiently known to be feared. The Komas 

 are, moreover, a peaceful nation, having been undisturbed by wars for some 

 centuries. Having no need to defend their country, and never making slave raids 

 against their neighbours, they are bad archers. But though they do not distinguish 

 themselves as warriors, they are skilful agriculturists, and their fine crops of igname 

 and cereals are more than sufficient to support the people. They barter the wild 

 honey abundantly furnished by their forests for iron, salt, and other articles. 



The Koma mountains, about 6,660 feet high, are one of the most pleasant 

 regions in the whole of Africa, enjoying an equable climate, not too warm, and 

 never so cold as to necessitate the wearing of heavy garments. The sloping land 

 is extremely healthy, and the picturesque hillocks, verdant valleys, and limpid 

 streams on every side combine to form a charming landscape. The huts scattered 



