192 A VISIT TO THE MONBUTTU. 



at the foot of that high land and extends parallel to it, re- 

 ceiving at first hand the total rainfall from two rainy regions. 

 If we remember, too, that the moist south and south-west 

 winds blowing from the Congo basin precipitate all their 

 moisture upon these mountains, that numerous large streams 

 accumulate within a small area, and evaporation is prevented by 

 the abundant woods, we shall cease to wonder at the immense 

 amount of water in the countrv. The high undulating district 

 around Gambari's village is very thickly populated, yet the 

 zerihas hardly strike the eye, because they are situated in 

 clearings in the woods or are shut in by high reeds, through 

 which only narrow footpaths wind. 



Except the servant class, which in Monbuttu is chiefly re- 

 cruited from Momvu, the inhabitants belong principally to the 

 race of Bamba, called by the A-Zande, A-Bangba (Schweinfurth's 

 Abanga), and appear to descend from the original inhabitants 

 of the country ; they have a language of their own, but have 

 adopted the customs as well as the speech of the ruling classes, 

 and are now just as good cannibals as the real Monbuttu. 

 According to their own account, their nearest tribal relations 

 are the Mundu of Makraka, who no doubt were separated from 

 them by the immigration of the A-Zande and driven towards 

 the north. Some members of the Mundu tribe who had 

 accompanied us were received in a very friendly way by their 

 ex-countrymen, and conversed with them in a language totally 

 different from the Monbuttu. The Mundu of^ to-day are an 

 exceedingly industrious agricultural people, and one hears, in 

 Makraka at least, nothing of cannibalism, although the near 

 neighbours of the Mundu, the Babukur, who also came from 

 the south, where they are known as Mayanga, have remained 

 true to the horrible custom of their homes. However, since 

 I have seen the eagerness with which the Bombe of Makraka, 

 who belong to the Iddio division of the A-Zande, offered to 

 clean skulls, the matter appears to me rather suspicious, and 

 I am inclined to state that the Bamba as well as the Mundu 

 still hold to their old customs, and continue them in private. 

 Apart from this, the Bamba are friendly, pleasant people, 

 clever and handy, and they possess a very good eye for neat- 



