UP THE BAHR-EL-JEBEL. 141 



to form the western boundary of Fajelu, and also ends near 

 Dufile, where it is called Jebel Meto. The transverse valley 

 lying between these ridges is inhabited in its southern and 

 western parts by Madi, who till the soil, whilst Bari, who are 

 rich in herds, occupy the north-east. 



Floating grass and reeds indicated rain in the south, while 

 frequent thunder and lightning in the east and south-east 

 confirmed the fact. A prolonged stay, in order to ship men 

 and gather wood, gave me time for short excursions on the east 

 river-bank below Bora; the Madi villages were, however, very 

 isolated, and scarcely any information could be obtained from 

 the shy natives. My ornithological spoils, however, proved 

 important, for, in addition to Ldbvvanellus senegalensis and a 

 bee-eater (Merops Bullockii), I obtained a fly-catcher and an 

 undetermined species of Thamnolaea. Siluroids were the only 

 fishes I found. 



Cold and misty weather somewhat retarded our departure. 

 Soon, however, the sun broke through the thick mist, and the 

 villages nestling between green fields in the folds of the hills, 

 from which columns of smoke rose into the sky, formed, 

 together with occasional stretches of wood, a very attractive 

 scene. Salt, which is otherwise very rare in the Madi and 

 Shiluk districts, is obtained everywhere from the ashes of 

 dried grass which is heaped up and burned. A species of 

 yellow sand is found in many places near Dufile ; it has a 

 strongly alkaline taste, and from it also salt is obtained by 

 washing and evaporation, but owing to its sharp and bitter 

 taste it is not much liked. 



After passing Bora, where last year's floods had done much 

 damage, we found that the almost impassable grass barrier 

 which had existed in the river had been swept away. Thus, 

 we reached Wadelai's district at 2.45 p.m. A new station is 

 to be founded there, if the chief gives his permission. The 

 length of time occupied by our journey from Dufile to Wadelai, 

 deducting all delays, was thirty-one hours fifteen minutes, but 

 as our speed was very irregular, the exact distance could not be 

 ascertained. A low ridge of hills runs close by the river ; 

 from the top of it we obtained a view of an extensive undulating 

 plain, slightly rising towards the west, in which small zeribas 



