56 
TUMULI OF ASHES. 
[chap. I. 
with great herds of cattle on the west bank. The 
natives appeared to be friendly, dancing and gesticu¬ 
lating as the boats passed. The White Nile tribe not 
only milk their cows, but they bleed their cattle perio¬ 
dically, and boil the blood for food. Driving a lance 
into a vein in the neck, they bleed the animal copi¬ 
ously, which operation is repeated about once a month. 
Jan. 29 th .—Passed a multitude of cattle and natives 
on a spot on the right bank, in clouds of smoke as a 
“ chasse des moustiques.” They make tumuli of dung, 
which are constantly on fire, fresh fuel being con¬ 
tinually added, to drive, aw ay the mosquitoes. Around 
these heaps the cattle crowd in hundreds, living with 
the natives in the smoke. By degrees the heaps of 
ashes become about eight feet high.; they are then 
used as sleeping-places and watch-stations by the 
natives, who, rubbing themselves all over with the 
ashes, have a ghastly and devilish appearance that is 
indescribable. The country is covered with old tumuli 
formed in this manner. A camp may contain twenty 
or thirty such, in addition to fresh heaps that are 
constantly burning. Fires of cow dung are also made 
on the levelled tops of the old heaps, and bundles of 
green canes, about sixteen feet high, are planted on 
the summit; these wave in the breeze like a plume 
of ostrich feathers, and give shade to the people during 
the heat of the day. 
Jan. 30 th .—Arrived at the “ Shir ”, tribe. The 
men are, as usual in these countries, armed with 
well-made ebony clubs, two lances, a bow (always 
strung), and a bundle of arrows; their hands are 
completely full of weapons ; and they carry a neatly- 
made miniature stool slung upon their backs, in addi¬ 
tion to an immense pipe. Thus a man carries all 
that he most values about his person. The females 
in this tribe are not absolutely naked; like those of the 
Kytch, they wear small lappets of tanned leather as 
broad as the hand ; at the back of the belt, which 
supports this apron, is a tail which reaches to the 
