116 Bahr el GJiazal Country.

agricultural peoplo, devoting, however, occasional periods to fishing and hunting. Agriculture. The labour bestowed on the culture of the dhura corn is very great, and it is through their indifference to cattle breeding that they owed their comparatively peaceful relations with the slave-dealing communities.

When the Kharturners first came to the country, the Bongo, unlike other tribes, inhabited extensive villages, enclosed by palisades ; now these are no longer found, except in the neighbourhood of the Government stations.

They bestow great pains on the construction of their huts, which are conical in shape, and made of stems of trees, faggots, bamboo, clay from the ant-hills, and grass. In diameter they are about 20 feet, and in height the same.

Besides agriculture, much of their time is devoted to the working of iron, which is found in great abundance in Bongo Land. They manufacture arms and tools of excellent quality. Industrie?. Their smelting furnaces are made of clay, and the iron is afterwards worked on anvils of gneiss or granite by hammers of stone or iron, rude bellows being nsed for the purpose.

-• Their dexterity in wood-carving is also very great, shown in the various utensils, spoons, &c, which they make.

They are also very fond of music, and have instruments, both stringed and wind.

Compared with the other tribes, the Bongo devote great attention to basket work, with which they line their huts, make beehives, and other articles for household use.

The manufacture of pottery is carried on by the women, who make different kinds of vessels and pipes.

The preparation of skins also forms an important branch of industry.

Their covering is scanty, being usually restricted to an apron or strip of stuff or skin ; but they disfigure the body in various ways, and their partiality for ornaments is very strong. Arms. Their weapons consist mainly of spears and bows and arrows, shields being rarely used. Their spears are of great size, and they poison their arrows with the milk of a species of euphorbia.