MAKING FRIENDS 255 the cattle should be in first-class condition, for I have remarked the extraordinary way they fall off in a small number of days when travelling on sandals up-river. So the lean and the halt were refused, and the villagers learnt that to bring poor ones was sheer waste of time.

I purposely mixed with the people, and exhausted a small stock of Arabic through the medium of Belal, who translated into Nuer, causing me to feel Arabic almost as my mother-tongue in comparison with the strange sounds, which seemed to defy analysis by the ear. Some approached nervously, gravely, with a gesture which seemed to signify disapproval or deprecation, but which in reality was a salaam ; while others essayed conversation, which was best replied to by affirmative or noncommittal grunts, which form an important feature in intercommunication !

A friendly attitude met generally with immediate response when once confidence had been established, and the exceptions to this in the Lower Zeraf were remarkably few, probably in no greater proportion, if so great, as would be met with amongst a similar crowd in England. One man brought his family in a canoe to assist, and refused to examine a mirror or stand for a photograph, either fearing the " evil eye," or to remain long in the vicinity of people who might prove, after all, to be false.

Another sat on an ant-hill, twanging the native banjo, formed of five strings yielding consecutive notes in good tune, with a sour expression of face,