1 8 FROM MAGUNGO TO MRULI. 



the number of tribes who dwell in the intervening region 

 (Dinka, Nuer, Eliab, Bari, Madi). Unfortunately, at the pre- 

 sent moment I have no Shiluk vocabulary at hand. The 

 dialects spoken in all the other districts just mentioned 

 belong to the Magungo language, the most southerly branch 

 of which (Masindi, Londu, &c.) is called Madundi, and resembles 

 Kiganda. 



The porters required for forwarding my baggage were 

 gradually making their appearance from the surrounding 

 villages ; and after they had been given a day of rest, and, 

 what was probably more welcome to them, an ox for slaughter, 

 it was time to think of the further journey. During light 

 rain, which, however, soon ceased, we next proceeded south- 

 ward, afterwards to take a more easterly direction. The whole 

 three days' march (we reckon six or eight hours for a march) 

 from Magungo to Kiroto, leads through an undulating country, 

 in the hollows of which little streams flow from east to west 

 (Khor Zalia, Khor Yaringo). The whole stretch of country 

 is covered by grass, so that horse and rider, much more 

 wanderers on foot, are entirely hidden in it. Scattered 

 throughout this sea of grass are Leguminosas, ten to four- 

 teen feet high, with yellow blossoms, tree-like Solaneee, tall 

 thistles, single trees (Kigelias, Mimosas, Combretas, and a few 

 euphorbias), and in some places the tall spikes of an aloe, 

 covered with hundreds of beautiful red tubular blossoms spotted 

 yellow. The monotony of the way is often broken by a 

 banana plantation, upon which all the energy of vegetation 

 seems to have concentrated itself; and now and then one 

 comes upon a hut, or a group of huts, apparently deserted ; 

 but that the inhabitants are not far away is proved on the one 

 hand by the extensive cultivation of sweet potatoes {Batatas 

 edulis) and sesame, which are constantly met with, and, on the 

 other, by the presence in the huts of all sorts of household 

 utensils. The huts themselves are circular in form, with hemi- 

 spherical roofs reaching to the ground, and they are divided 

 into two compartments. The first compartment is for use by 

 day, and has a sort of corner divan, and the space behind, 

 which is completely dark, is devoted to the fireplace, storehouse, 

 and sleeping-room. Near to one of these huts I found a plant 



