216 GONDOKORO TO AGARU. 



granite, striped red and black, lay on the banks, where we 

 found solitary Adenias, with their underground stems and 

 purple blossoms. Jebel Torkola, which we soon reached, was 

 partly covered by bamboos, and on its summit glittered and 

 sparkled large plates of mica, which is found throughout 

 this district. The mountain itself consists of grey granite. 

 Jebel Longobo, which we reached after crossing Khor Gollo- 

 lindu (known farther down as Mirshuk), is usually named Jebel 

 Bonjurem, after the Bari tribe living there. Unfortunately, 

 not a drop of water was to be had, and a storm coming on 

 suddenly, converted the yellow loam into a stiff mud without 

 providing drinking-water. The nearest village lay far away 

 on the mountain, and its inhabitants did not show themselves, 

 although Befo, their chief, was with us ; so when the rain 

 abated a little we had to leave our refuge — a magnificent 

 tamarind — and, wet and still thirsty, we continued our journey. 

 Bounding the last spur of Jebel Longobo, which rises in the 

 shape of a beautiful pillar, called Lili, we passed through fine 

 park land to Jebel Molere, a rather long range, on the slopes 

 of which lies the village U likare, where we encamped under a 

 mighty butter-tree. 



The population of this district is very large, judging from 

 the number of villages in sight ; the ground is well cultivated. 

 It consists of coffee- coloured vegetable mould, overlying, to a 

 depth of three feet, a stratum of granitic rubble ; here, too, 

 water is scarce. Wells have been dug in the deepest part of 

 a fold of the ground, which comes down from Jebel Molere. 

 These wells are about ten minutes' walk to the east-south-east 

 of the village. They are about six feet deep, and fill by per- 

 colation ; their water is not clear, and is not exactly improved 

 by the habit the people have of washing themselves in it 

 before they fill their vessels. 



Here Chief Befo took leave of us, after furnishing us with 

 porters ; he did not venture to proceed farther, on account of a 

 blood-feud which exists between him and Bugang, the great 

 rainmaker and chief of the Liria district ; he would probably 

 have been made away with long before this if he had not 

 prudently joined us. A great deal of rain must have fallen 

 here, for the forest — still the open Bari forest — is beautifully 



