316 KEDIBA TO BITI. 



rivers, where game is abundant and safe retreats available. 

 The chiefs near whom they dwell are compelled to provide the 

 Akka with corn, bulbs, and whatever else is necessary for their 

 maintenance, in return for which they receive the skins, 

 feathers, tails, &o, of the animals caught in the chase. They 

 are very vindictive, and if refused a request they become dan- 

 gerous. They are exceptionally expert as hunters, and I had 

 an opportunity of witnessing their dexterity in killing birds, 

 which they shoot with arrows from which the iron tips have 

 been removed. 



This morning" another Akka was brought to me. He was 

 about twenty-five years old, and his two conductors could 

 hardly hold him fast. He was one of a number of Monbuttu 

 slaves whom I had confiscated the previous day. He had only 

 recently been brought here from his home with the Monbuttu 

 slaves whom I seized yesterday, and he had hidden himself, 

 from fear of being killed and eaten, in the straw roof of a hut, 

 where he had remained undiscovered until driven out by hunger. 

 Notwithstanding his resistance, he had been brought here from 

 Amadi ; on the road he escaped into the high grass, and was 

 only recaptured after considerable trouble. I ordered his re- 

 lease, but he protested energetically against accompanying the 

 Monbuttu, and demanded to be allowed to go to his home by 

 himself, which was at last permitted him. He had a reddish 

 but rather dark skin (probably dirt), was very prognathous, 

 rather swag-bellied, but exceedingly nimble. His height 

 was three feet six inches. His whole body was covered by 

 thick, stiff hair, almost like felt, which was especially thick on 

 the breast, around the navel, and on the pubes. This was 

 the case with all the Akka I have as yet examined. The 

 wrinkles of their skin, especially at the corners of the eyes, 

 are very remarkable, and give to the Akka their lachrymose 

 expression, also making them look older than they really are. 

 Mixed marriages between the Akka and Momvii result in in- 

 dividuals having a coppery complexion, playing into yellow, 

 whilst in all other respects the Akka type predominates. A 

 girl of about fourteen years of age, the issue of such a mar- 

 riage, measured three feet seven-eighths of an inch. The 

 smell of the perspiration, which is very penetrating and 



