THE SHILLUKS. 121 



criers may immediately warn all the peoples of the surrounding towns in case of 

 alarm. 



Hartmann and most other explorers of this region of the Nile consider the 

 Shilluks as the typical representative of the group of Negro nations whose domain 

 is bounded south by the Bantu, east by the Galla and other Ethiopian races, north 

 by the Nubian and Arab tribes, and south-west by the Niam-Niam. The Shilluks 

 are, moreover, by far the most numerous of these groups, and have migrated most 

 frequently to all the surrounding regions. They are said to have come from the 

 south-east plains watered by the Sobat affluents ; since the migration, the Luoh 

 and Diur, a branch of the same stock, have occupied a portion of the south-west 

 territory between the Bongos and Denkas. Other of their colonists have even 

 crossed the Somerset Nile and settled in the TJ-Nyoro country, under the name of 

 Chefalu ; they are now colonising along the right bank of the Nile below the 

 Sobat, the districts of the Denka country wasted by the slavers. The population 

 on both banks was described by Wernq as " immense," " incredibly dense ; " even 

 on the right bank, although the least crowded, hundreds of Denka villages followed 

 each other at short intervals. But they were all delivered to the flames, this region 

 having been completely wasted in 1862 by Mohammed Her, the chief of a band of 

 adventurers, who had allied himself with the Abu-Rof Arab tribe occupying, west 

 of Senaar, a large tract between the two main streams. The Abu-Bof, stationed 

 along the foot of the hills, drove the Denkas towards the Nile and Sobat, where 

 the slave-boats were in readiness. The razzia was successful, not a soul escaping, 

 and a district several thousand square miles in extent was thus depopulated. 

 Gordon's regret at having contributed to spread the " benefits of civilisation " in 

 these countries may easily be understood. " We want neither your pearls, your 

 friendship, nor your protection ; we only ask you to leave us," were the words 

 addressed to him by the delegates of a tribe he was annexing to Egypt. 



Although for some time in contact with the Arab Mussulmans, the Shilluks 

 have preserved their customs and religion. Like the Bari and Denka, they have 

 refused the garments offered them by the Khartum merchants, accepting nothing 

 but their glass or metal trinkets ; the women alone wear a calf- skin attached to 

 their girdle. Instead of clothes, the poor besmear themselves with ashes, and are 

 thus recognised at a distance by their grey colour, the real complexion of the tribe 

 being ruddy. Like other riverain populations of the "White Nile, the Shilluks 

 ornament their hair with grass and feathers in the most fantastic forms, such as 

 that of a crest, a fan, a halo, a helmet, or even a broad-brimmed hat. At sight of 

 Schweinfurth wearing a broad felt hat of the Panama type, the natives thought 

 he was one of their tribe, and shouted with wonder when he took off his hat. The 

 future form of the headdress depends mostly on the fancy of the mother. Before 

 the children are weaned they fashion the hair with clay, gum, manure, and ashes, 

 leaving its future care to the children themselves. 



The Shilluks are skilled hunters like the Baggara, not only chasing but even 

 breeding the ostrich in their villages. The animal they fear the most is the 

 buffalo. When unable to evade the furious beast, they throw themselves face 



