V,6 RUMBEK. 



jj 



garden is situated, the trees of which — dates, lemons, and 

 pomegranates — planted by Malzac, were half withered, owing to 

 want of pruning and water. Water is very scarce ; it is ob- 

 tained from deep wells, and has a dirty colour and a nauseously 

 earthy taste. The whole situation of the station so far from 

 all water is a great mistake, and its formation into a central 

 station can only be explained by its convenience for the slave- 

 trade. In one day I set free and sent home 165 Monbuttu, 

 of whom 41 were taken from the hut of the chief of this 

 district, a certain Mula Effendi, of course a Dongolaui, and 

 400 Agar, Kich, and At wot (Atot) slaves ; these numbers are 

 proof sufficient of the state of matters. In Rumbek there is 

 no lack of places for prayers, decorated by white flags, and 

 still less of fakis. 



The Agar, who live round the station, are a curious people, 

 and although a good deal has already been written concerning 

 the Dinka, of which they are a division, it may not be out 

 of place to devote a few words to them. They are polite 

 and complimentary to excess, and so self-conscious that not 

 one of them would ever eat with a Mittu. Although the 

 Khartum settlement has existed here for more than twenty 

 years, it is almost impossible to procure any porters from them. 

 They still possess a considerable quantity of cattle, notwith- 

 standing the numerous raids and thefts to which they have 

 been subjected. Slavery has, however, been introduced among 

 them, and with it the demoralising use of brandy, that distilled 

 from dokhn, which is very strong, and contains much fusel- 

 oil, being accorded the preference. These are the results of 

 the civilisation introduced by the twenty years' residence of 

 the Danagla amongst them. 



In their habits and customs the Agar have remained com- 

 pletely unaffected. The girls go about nude until they marry, 

 even if this event does not happen for many a long year. 

 Whoever touches the breast of an unmarried girl must pay the 

 usual cows and marry her ; if he refuses to marry her, he must 

 at any rate pay the cows, and she must wait for a husband, 

 who can obtain her at a smaller valuation. At the time when 

 cattle were very numerous in this country, the price for a 

 good-looking girl was fifty or sixty cows ; now eight or ten 



