152 AN EXCURSION TO LUR.

miles. No large streams have to be crossed along this route, but near to Wadelai two khors flow to the main stream, having water breast-high during the kharif. ‘The most southerly one is full of vegetation, and may be an old river-channel; the other one comes from the mountains in the west. From Wadelai to Dufilé the journey can only be made along the east bank, because of the hostile Negroes (Madi). Many deep ravines impede the traveller, but men without loads can traverse the distance in three days’ good marching.

The country between Mahagi and Wadelai is hilly, and shut in towards the west by mountain ranges which are visible even from the river; it is very thickly peopled, and very rich in herds and flocks of all sorts. Actual woods do not exist, but groups of splendid trees of all kinds are scattered over the country. The large neat villages are exactly like those previously described, and the language, manners, and customs are the same throughout the Lur country.

From Nn Ae station a road leads along the hills, then entering a narrow valley and changing its direction from southwest to west, it takes one in five hours to Nyelea, a very populous district, where banana plantations exist in the valley near to the khor. From that place I obtained a goat, which differs from all other kinds found here by its long coat. The hind-legs and head especially are so thickly covered with long stiff hair that it drags on the ground, and the goat has to shake its head in order to see. Only a few specimens are to be found in this neighbourhood, but they are said to be much more prevalent farther to the west. I have also seen the same kind, with hair growing even more luxuriantly, in Uganda, and procured some of the skins. They are brought to Uganda from Uséga, where they are kept in small herds, raised sleepingplaces covered with grass being purposely made for them, so that the hair may not be spoilt. It was difficult to obtain living specimens of them here, for the owners would not sell them.

Three hours’ march in a north-westerly direction over a country abounding in high hills, covered with bushes, and intersected by numerous deep hors of icy water, take one to Chief Aguiri’s land, Jabakot. One and a half hours more in