chap, vi.] COMMORO, THE LION. 167 
about tlie same age : thus the conversation was some¬ 
what tedious, the medium being Bari and Latooka. 
The chief Commoro (the “Lion”) was one of the 
most clever and common-sense savages that I had seen 
in these countries, and the tribe paid far more 
deference to his commands than to those of his brother, 
“ Moy,” although the latter was the superior in rank. 
One day I sent for Commoro after the usual funeral 
dance was completed, and, through my two young 
interpreters, I had a long conversation with him on the 
customs of his country. I wished if possible to fathom 
the origin of the extraordinary custom of exhuming 
the body after burial, as I imagined that in this act 
some idea might be traced to a belief in the 
resurrection. 
Commoro was, like all his people, extremely tall. 
Upon entering my tent he took his seat upon the 
ground, the Latookas not using stools like the other 
White Nile tribes. I commenced the conversation by 
complimenting him on the perfection of his wives and 
daughters in the dance, and on his own agility in the 
performance ; and inquired for whom the ceremony 
had been performed ? 
He replied, that it was for a man who had been 
recently killed, but no one of great importance, the 
same ceremony being observed for every person with¬ 
out distinction. 
I asked him why those slain in battle were allowed 
to remain unburied. He said, it had always been the 
custom, but that he could not explain it. 
“ But,” I replied, “ why should you disturb the bones 
of those whom you have already buried, and expose 
them on the outskirts of the town ? ” 
“ It was the custom of our forefathers,” he answered, 
“ therefore we continue to observe it.” 
“ Have you no belief in a future existence after 
death ? Is not some idea expressed in the act of 
exhuming the bones after the flesh is decayed ? ” 
Commoro (loq )—“ Existence after death ! How can 
