UP THE BAHR-EL-JEBEL. I4I to form the western boundary of Fajelu, and also ends near Dufilé, where it is called Jebel Meto. The transverse valley lying between these ridges is inhabited in its southern and western parts by Madi, who till the soil, whilst Bari, who are rich in herds, occupy the north-east.

Floating grass and reeds indicated rain in the south, while frequent thunder and lightning in the east and south-east confirmed the fact. A prolonged stay, in order to ship men and gather wood, gave me time for short excursions on the east river-bank below Bora; the Madi villages were, however, very isolated, and scarcely any information could be obtained from the shy natives. My ornithological spoils, however, proved important, for, in addition to Lobivanellus senegalensis and a -bee-eater (Merops Bullockii), I obtained a fly-catcher and an undetermined species of Thamnoleea. Siluroids were the only fishes I found.

Cold and misty weather somewhat retarded our departure. Soon, however, the sun broke through the thick mist, and the villages nestling between green fields in the folds of the hills, from which columns of smoke rose into the sky, formed, together with occasional stretches of wood, a very attractive scene. Salt, which is otherwise very rare in the Madi and Shiluk districts, is obtained everywhere from the ashes of dried grass which is heaped up and burned. A species of yellow sand is found in many places near Dufilé; it has a strongly alkaline taste, and from it also salt is obtained by washing and evaporation, but owing to its sharp and bitter taste it is not much liked.

After passing Bora, where last year’s floods had done much damage, we found that the almost impassable grass barrier which had existed in the river had been swept away. Thus, we reached Wadelai’s district at 2.45 P.M. A new station is to be founded there, if the chief gives his permission. The length of time occupied by our journey from Dufilé to Wadelai, deducting all delays, was thirty-one hours fifteen minutes, but as our speed was very irregular, the exact distance could not be ascertained. A low ridge of hills runs close by the river; from the top of it we obtained a view of an extensive undulating plain, slightly rising towards the west, in which small zerébas