150 FEOM THE NIGEE TO THE NILE 



and " boys " and all crept in under the debris of the tent till 

 the deluge was oyqx- 



This year the rainy season had commenced a month 

 earher than usual and a dust-storm followed by a tornado 

 towards evening or during the night was an almost regular 

 occurrence. Under these conditions we found the sand- 

 banks afforded the driest camping-grounds, and they were 

 free from the ravages of white ants. 



At mid-day of the fifth day from Fort Lamy we had our 

 " chop " at a small Baghirmi village called Miskin situated 

 high on the edge of the bank. Like all the villages in this 

 part, it had been sacked and burnt by Rabeh, but it had 

 been rebuilt ; we sat under a tree overlooking the river 

 close by the village burial-place. As they were fisher-folk 

 most of the offerings to the dead were symboUc of their trade 

 in life and the graveyard was covered over with old fishing- 

 nets supported on sticks. 



GosUng, who had already been in this neighbourhood, 

 gives the following description of a place called Munnawaji 

 about fifteen miles from Miskin and near the Bahr-el-Ergig. 

 ..." It is a thriving village — chiefly Kanuri. They have 

 a number of looms going and make useful cloth. The people 

 seemed quite pleased to welcome an Enghshman, and are 

 worthy people in every way. They have a good shelter in 

 the town which is also their praying enclosure. The chorus 

 of small boys reciting the Koran was quite deafening. The 

 preparation of cotton goes on in every hut and much cloth is 

 made ; every one is at work one way or another, I have seen 

 nothing like it elsewhere." 



That night we made our camp close to the mouth of the 



