152 AN EXCURSION TO LUR. 



miles. No large streams have to be crossed along this route, 

 but near to Wadelai two khors flow to the main stream, having 

 water breast-high during the kharif. The most southerly one 

 is full of vegetation, and may be an old river-channel ; the 

 other one comes from the mountains in the west. From 

 Wadelai to Dufile the journey can only be made along the east 

 bank, because of the hostile Negroes (Madi). Many deep 

 ravines impede the traveller, but men without loads can traverse 

 the distance in three days' good marching. 



The country between Mahagi and Wadelai is hilly, and shut 

 in towards the west by mountain ranges which are visible even 

 from the river ; it is very thickly peopled, and very rich in 

 herds and flocks of all sorts. Actual woods do not exist, but 

 groups of splendid trees of all kinds are scattered over the 

 country. The large neat villages are exactly like those pre- 

 viously described, and the language, manners, and customs are 

 the same throughout the Liir country. 



From Mahagi station a road leads along the hills, then 

 entering a narrow valley and changing its direction from south- 

 west to west, it takes one in five hours to Nyelea, a very 

 populous district, where banana plantations exist in the valley 

 near to the khor. From that place I obtained a goat, which 

 differs from all other kinds found here by its long coat. The 

 hind-legs and head especially are so thickly covered with 

 long stiff hair that it drags on the ground, and the goat has to 

 shake its head in order to see. Only a few specimens are to 

 be found in this neighbourhood, but they are said to be much 

 more prevalent farther to the west. I have also seen the 

 same kind, with hair growing even more luxuriantly, in Uganda, 

 and procured some of the skins. They are brought to Uganda 

 from Usoga, where they are kept in small herds, raised sleeping- 

 places covered with grass being purposely made for them, so 

 that the hair may not be spoilt. It was difficult to obtain 

 living specimens of them here, for the owners would not sell 

 them. 



Three hours' march in a north-westerly direction over a 

 country abounding in high hills, covered with bushes, and 

 intersected by numerous deep khors of icy water, take one 

 to Chief Aguiri's land, Jabakot. One and a half hours more in 



