AT GUMBIRI. 361 



homesteads were mostly enclosed by hedges made of strong 

 beams and thorns, probably as a protection against the nume- 

 rous lions. The villages in this district are generally situated 

 upon the tops of hills, and the numerous mounds and moun- 

 tains have quite a romantic appearance. Jebel Loka, called 

 Jebel Kuerkuit by the Bari of Beden, forms an excellent 

 landmark, on account of its peculiar shape. It is seen for a 

 considerable distance, unless, as is often the case, its summit 

 is hidden by clouds. 



"We stayed the night in the village of Kerbolong, near the 

 mountains, and then proceeded to the adjacent station of Gum- 

 biri. The rain sufficed to wet me through and to interfere 

 with my work, but did not damp the spirits of the porters- 

 After passing through the fields which surround the village of 

 Goddu, our road led through swampy lowlands, where swarms 

 of yellow-backed widow- birds (Penthetria macroura) were 

 climbing about the tall grass ; then we reached a broad road, 

 made by the Gumbiri people, for which in such weather we 

 were doubly grateful. 



The station of Gumbiri, in Fajelii, our farthest outpost in 

 the Makraka district, was reached early, and we remained 

 there for one day. As the station had only just been built 

 and the surrounding natives were still rather timid, my stay 

 could not be thoroughly utilised. I have, however, been able 

 to ascertain on this journey that Khor Bibia has been till now 

 over-estimated, and that, like Khor Luri, it receives its waters 

 from the Loka and Kero mountains. It is said that Kiri, on 

 the Bahr-el-Jebel, can be reached from Gumbiri in four days' 

 march through very mountainous country. After marching 

 between the eleusine fields which surround Gumbiri, and which 

 are divided by deep ditches separating one man's property 

 from another, we arrived at high grass land, where numberless 

 khors rush over blocks of rock ; the latter often form bridges 

 over the streams, but usually cause rapids. Here and there, 

 swampy stretches were covered by small woods of Yatica. 

 Troops of chattering wood-hoopoes were to be seen in the 

 numerous butter-trees. Two small hills near the road, at the 

 foot of which there were many fungiform termite structures, are 

 called Keniy and Mundia, names given in Fajelii, as well as 



