IVOBY-TUBNING. 199 found it very good; the grains are half as large again as ordinary rice.

The magazines were well worth a visit if only to see the collection of guns. All sorts were to be found, from the oldest matchlock down to the most modern breech-loader ; a goodly number of American sis and ten shooters were also there. Some of the inlaid guns and pistols were very valuable, and a collection of inlaid swords with silver scabbards would have delighted the heart of a collector of curiosities. We also saw two immense tusks of ivory ; one weighed 230 lbs., the other a few pounds less ; these weights are said to be the heaviest on record. There used to be quite a large trade carried on here in ivory-turning. This was on account of the government monopoly on all tusks sent down to Khartoum ; so, to evade the tax, the ivory was worked up here, and arm-rings, bracelets, handles for swords, daggers, etc., used to be manufactured in large numbers. Some of the specimens of the work were of very superior order. A small amount of gold is found in the neighbourhood, and there are a few gold and silver smiths in Dem Suleiman ; the coffee-cup stands, ear-rings, and cigarette-holders in filigree-work were very pretty ; ornaments for the head and neck showed considerable taste both in design and execution, and the chased bracelets and trays and sword-sheaths of silver were of excellent workmanship.