90 A DESCRIPTION OF THE WANYORO.

it ascends to the neighbouring mountains. Numbers of mimosas, fig-trees, and Combretez are dispersed among the erass, Whilst tendrils of abrus and vines form regular tangles. At the western foot of the hill the watering-place for Kabréga’s cattle is situated, a well about six feet deep, on a level with the Khor Kyai, which flows close by. The bottom is formed of a deep yellow loam, and the water is also yellow. About six feet above the well, a long deep trench is dug in the ground, from which the cows and oxen drink, and beside it is a smaller basin for the calves. ‘The trenches are filled by means of buckets, and every fortnight twenty to thirty loads of salt are thrown into the well. ‘The only place in the Upper Nile district where I have seen smooth, fat cattle, is Kabréga’s capital. They pass by to the watering-place every afternoon, about 1500 innumber, most of them humpless, with enormously long horns. It is a pleasure to see the stately animals climb the steep mountain like goats; most of them are grey, but some are entirely hght brown.

The following facts show the precautions taken to procure the kino’s safety. Apart from all the huts, near the hor, stands a small, carefully watched togul, surrounded by its own zertba. It covers the well set apart for Kabréga’s sole use, from which the water required for him is drawn once a day at sunrise, and carried to his house in closed vessels. A matongali, bound to the king by blood-brotherhood, is head of the watchmen. Similarly the cows, which supply milk for Kabréga’s personal consumption, are kept quite separate; they are milked in his presence in the morning, and then go to pasture, escorted by a man and a boy. The boy goes before them calling out loudly, “the king’s cattle;” and every one who happens to be near must withdraw as quickly as possible if he does not wish to be killed. When I asked the reason, I was answered, that there were people whose look could turn milk into blood, so that phenomenon is known here also.

The daughters of Kabréga’s subjects are unconditionally at his disposal, but he marks his approval of any particularly attractive girl by giving her father a present of cattle. He possesses also, in accordance with the universal Wahutma (Uganda, Karagwa, &c.) custom, all the wives of his deceased