THE WESTERN BEND 
229 
evidence to outsiders; nevertheless another interesting- 
experience befell. Baraka and I had just sat down 
to prepare and stow some specimens of sand-grouse, 
when two young’ women, bearing water-jars, appeared 
on the scene. Of the twain, one, it may be, was 
precocious ; for on perceiving us, $he at once came up 
and entered into voluble conversation. I replied as the 
occasion seemed to demand—since my fair interlocutor 
Tchagra, or Red-winged Bush-Shrike {Telephonus remigialis). 
was distinctly shapely and presumably (to Shilluk eye) 
a belle—her more demure companion hanging back, a 
few yards away, among the bush. Presently on my 
invitation, my vivacious visitor set herself down alongside 
and with a sort of childish pride expatiated on the beauty 
of her scanty adornments. There was a necklet of shells 
and snakes’ vertebrae, sundry bracelets evolved from 
ivory, animal-sinews or fibres. These gems, one by one, 
she took off for my more complete appreciation—that, I 
presume, being the root-idea. To reciprocate her 
friendliness, I begged her to stand while I made the 
