3 i4 KEDIBA TO BITI. 



graves, which lie amongst the huts, and are conical mounds, 

 covered by stone pyramids, or enclosed within a circular fence 

 made of branches. Bodies are said to be buried in a squatting 

 position, the chin being placed upon the knees, and the arms 

 around the shins. As a rule, the henhouses are built near 

 the graves ; they are cylindrical in form, and constructed either 

 of stone slabs covered with clay, or else of wattle and daub, 

 with heavy stone lids and doors. The fowls are very small ; 

 many are without tails ; they are good layers, but their eggs 

 are small. The ancient wealth in cattle of this country has 

 become mythical. Hunting appears to be little practised ; the 

 country literally teems with herds of elephants, but no one 

 ventures to attack them. In fact, the Negro tribes in this part 

 of the country, as well as in Makraka, are very indolent ; 

 they are wanting in elasticity of mind and stamina, comparing 

 unfavourably in these respects with their neighbours, the Dinka, 

 Bari, and other tribes. This weakness of character has enabled 

 the Danagla to obtain a footing in the country, and has exposed 

 it to robbery, and to the evils inflicted by the slave-trade. The 

 whole village is filled by dogs of the breed common to this 

 country ; many are white, with yellowish-brown spots ; others 

 are liver or fawn coloured. No one has thought of training 

 them for the chase. 



Some ten minutes to the north-north-east of the village 

 there is a broad watercourse, at present dry, which leads to the 

 Amadi river. Many names are given to it ; the Kederii call 

 it Kodi, the Morii, Eyi or Ayi. Water of good quality, although 

 rather milky, is found in the sandy bed of the Ichor, very near 

 the surface, as also in other places in large basins surrounded 

 by blocks of rocks. The Tchor is fringed by luxuriant vegeta- 

 tion, amongst which are fig-trees, yielding small but tasty figs, 

 and the Anogeissus, called sileh by the Arabs, which is much 

 prized on account of its excellent white wood. The Carpo- 

 dinus tendril, from which indiarubber is obtained, is also very 

 common, and is called bono. Masses of tall bamboo edge the 

 klwr, which must sometimes contain an immense quantity of 

 water, for, at a height of six to eight feet above the surface of 

 the bed, masses of plants, carried down by the current, hang 

 upon the bushes. Animal life is varied and abundant, and 



