240 
Proceedings of the Boyal Society 
present of a big fat bull, which he took into the forest near by. He 
killed and ate it and afterwards stuffed the skin, and came back to 
the village and asked them if they would exchange it for a camel. 
They consented, and he mounted his camel and rode with them to 
the place where the stuffed bull la}' - . He told them to beat the bull 
and it would wake up, and then rode off and vanished in the distance. 
When the villagers found out how they had been treated they were 
very incensed against the rabbit, but he took care never to come 
that way again.” 
This story is told to show how deceitful the rabbit is, and to 
warn people that if their path is crossed by one they must be very 
cautious during the whole of that day, or they will probably be 
deceived by some one. 
War . — A clasS-of regular soldiers exists in Darfur, and they are 
called dalimars. They are in the service of the chiefs, and any strong 
young man may enlist in their ranks, but they receive no regular 
pay. They are liable to be called on for service at any time, and 
they then receive proper rations of food, and at the close of a war 
they get presents of damoor cloth and grain. They all possess land 
just as others do, and in times of peace cultivate it and support 
themselves and their families. All the dalimars of a district reside 
at the chiefs headquarters. They are divided into two classes ; the 
one is composed of well-to-do men, the other of common soldiers. 
The former live in separate huts with their families, in an enclosure 
on one side of the chief’s quarters, and are treated by him with 
much respect and consideration. Notwithstanding this they do 
not seem to be very contented, and the puggees often have to bring 
their influence to bear on them to settle disputes between them and 
their chief. The lower class soldiers live in long sheds on the other 
side of the chief’s enclosure, and a strong grass wall divides the two 
classes. A similar one forms an enclosure all round the chief’s 
village, and outside this again a strong hedge protects the place from 
attack by men or intrusion of beasts. Between the two walls are 
gardens, but the principal gardens and the fields are outside the 
seriba. 
An under chief lives in a hut at the door of each division, and is 
responsible for the gate being properly guarded, as watch is kept 
there night and day. No one can go and speak to the chief without 
