334 RUMBEK. 



the indolence of the people. When they go along the water- 

 less stretch to the market at Rumbek in the winter, the 

 dry season, they have no need of water ; and in the summer, 

 the rainy season, there are pools enough from which they can 

 drink. 



Many mosquitos were found near the water, and it was 

 perfectly astonishing to see the immense quantities of earwigs 

 {Forficula sp.), of a species having an orange-coloured thorax 

 with a black stripe. On entering an Agar hut you are lite- 

 rally covered with these Orthoptera ; the high grass also is 

 perfectly alive with them. 



The boundary between Afin and Ato'i, two of the small 

 strips of country into which the Agar territory is divided, was 

 situated at two and a half hours' march beyond the well. The 

 cattle in this district were estimated at between five and six 

 thousand. The district of Montij was characterised by its thicker 

 woods. Large troops of baboons were met with here ; they 

 were taking their breakfasts, and hardly took any notice of us. 

 A spot called Lerme, behind the village of Afiati, was pointed 

 out to me, where a village with all its inhabitants, who were at 

 the moment singing and dancing, was swallowed up by an earth- 

 quake. A very pleasant march through wooded country and 

 amongst many villages, brought us at last to the station of 

 Rumbek, the principal settlement of the Danagla in this 

 country. It has been inhabited by them for many a long year, 

 and I shall probably find a considerable amount of work to do 

 before things are as they ought to be. 



5. Rumbek : the Agar and other Dinka Tribes. 



RUMBEK AND ITS HISTORY — THE AGAR TRIBE— MATRIMONIAL BARGAINS — 

 WOMEN'S RIGHTS— ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE — DRESS AND ORNA- 

 MENTS — DOMESTICATED SNAKES — A PARIAH TRIBE — SUPERSTITIONS. 



Rumbek, the capital of the district of Rol, was first occupied 

 from Gabba Shambe by Alfonse de Malzac, an attaclU to the 

 French Consulate in Khartum, and a slave-dealer of repute. 



