9 o A DESCRIPTION OF THE WANYOKO. 



it ascends to the neighbouring mountains. Numbers of 

 mimosas, fig-trees, and Combreteas are dispersed amoug the 

 grass, whilst tendrils of abrus and vines form regular tangles. 

 At the western foot of the hill the watering-place for Ka- 

 brega's cattle is situated, a well about six feet deep, on a 

 level with the Khor Kyai, which flows close by. The bottom 

 is formed of a deep yellow loam, and the water is also yellow. 

 About six feet above the well, a long deep trench is dug in the 

 ground, from which the cows and oxen drink, and beside it is 

 a smaller basin for the calves. The trenches are filled by means 

 of buckets, and every fortnight twenty to thirty loads of salt 

 are thrown into the well. The only place in the Upper Nile 

 district where I have seen smooth, fat cattle, is Kabrega's 

 capital. They pass by to the watering-place every afternoon, 

 about I 500 in number, most of them humpless, with enormously 

 long horns. It is a pleasure to see the stately animals climb 

 the steep mountain like goats ; most of them are grey, but 

 some are entirely light brown. 



The following facts show the precautions taken to procure 

 the king's safety. Apart from all the huts, near the khor, stands 

 a small, carefully watched togul, surrounded by its own zeriba. 

 It covers the well set apart for Kabre'ga's sole use, from which 

 the water required for him is drawn once a day at sunrise, and 

 carried to his house in closed vessels. A matongali, bound to 

 the king by blood-brotherhood, is head of the watchmen. 

 Similarly the cows, which supply milk for Kabrega's personal 

 consumption, are kept quite separate ; they are milked in his 

 presence in the morning, and then go to pasture, escorted by 

 a man and a boy. The boy goes before them calling out 

 loudly, " the king's cattle ; " and every one who happens to be 

 near must withdraw as quickly as possible if he does not wish 

 to be killed. When I asked the reason, I was answered, that 

 there were people whose look could turn milk into blood, so 

 that phenomenon is known here also. 



The daughters of Kabrega's subjects are unconditionally at 

 his disposal, bat he marks his approval of any particularly 

 attractive girl by giving her father a present of cattle. He 

 possesses also, in accordance with the universal Wahuma 

 (Uganda, Karagwa, &c.) custom, all the wives of his deceased 



