52 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIX. 
nasty, suffered greatly. Besides these, a good many 
Biidduma are settled here. 
I was very glad when, after another severe quarrel, 
the young horse was at length given up by the rob- 
bers, as likewise the beast of burden. One of the 
oxen sent yesterday as a present was slaughtered to- 
day, and divided amongst the whole band. As for 
myself, I made merry on a little fresh milk ; for 
though the people are, and appear to have been from 
their birth (for "beri" means cattle-herd), in pos- 
session of numerous herds of cattle, nevertheless, in 
the village, as is often the case, there is very little 
milk — only just as much as is required for the use of 
the owners themselves — the cattle being at a great dis- 
tance. Very little can be obtained here, and corn is 
scarcely cultivated, owing to the insecure and despe- 
rate state of the country. The inhabitants are in 
continual intercourse with the Yedina, that section 
of the Kotoko who inhabit the islands in the lake, 
and who are generally called Biidduma. But of 
course the distance of their village from the lagoon 
varies considerably ; and the nearest branch or inlet 
at present was that which we had crossed in the 
morning, and from which the inhabitants supplied 
themselves with water. The want of firewood is 
greatly felt; scarcely a single tree is to be met with 
in the neighbourhood.* 
* I willjiere add the stations of another route between Ngegimi 
and Ben. 1st day: sleep in Ngubo, an open village inhabited by 
Kuri ; arrive before heat of day. 2nd. Tabunte, the first place in 
