TRADING AT KODNI 241 raiding days, and hence their timidity, but it does not account for their character.

Between the river and village stretched a couple of miles of lowland, intersected with swamp every few yards. Messengers were sent out to spread the news of our coming, and all we could do was to wait the result. One or two men eventually turned up, picking their way in a gingerly fashion, and were informed that we would exchange dhurra for oxen. A few more joined their comrades, one of exceptional physique, and eventually some oxen could be seen in the distance threading their way by the track through the slough, and oftentimes sinking from sight in the grass, tugged by thongs round the horns. Some in the distance refused to budge from the higher ground of the village, breaking away and giving the long legs of their owners plenty to do to race round them and turn them toward us. When the bargains were struck, the women turned up in small numbers with baskets ; but it was noticeable that the younger ones were carefully kept at home, and only those appeared who were (presumably in their eyes, distinctly in ours) unattractive to look on.

Some filled their baskets with dhurra and took them away on their heads, while others removed it in " dug-outs," which were laboriously paddled or pushed by tortuous channels through the swamp.

In these cases the " dug-outs " were formed out of the trunks of palm-trees, the ends being blocked 16