CROSS THE WELLE. 187 by the river called by them the Obbi, declare that the Kibi is only a tributary of the Kibali, and that this river comes in a long sweep from the south-east.

I have spoken of the Welle and Kibali; it may, therefore, be advisable to explain these names here. If a traveller comes from the north accompanied by A-Zande interpreters, and asks them the name of the river, they call it Makwa, an appellation which it retains as long as it flows through the territory of the -A-Zandé. Besides this name, however, the word Welle, which signifies “river,” “stream” par excellence, is in general use among them, but is entirely unknown to the Monbuttu, who call the Makwa, where it traverses their country, simply Kiba (also meaning “ stream”). | We gained the southern bank in a swift canoe, and there entered Monbuttu proper, the wonders of which I had long wished to see. But the first march, as far as the village Nédada, situated an hour’s journey from the river, afforded nothing of particular interest. After climbing the somewhat steep slope of the river-bank, the road led us through a steppe covered with gigantic grass. The hght grey soil, intermixed with an abundance of vegetable ashes, lies on a substratum of sharp granite fragments, and is therefore unable to retain sufficient moisture for the development of tall-growing vegetation. What trees exist are low and have thin stems, but they display a greater profusion of foliage than is found in the north; this is particularly striking in the Vitex and Sarcocephalus, which are extremely common. “Gallery” woods skirted the brooks, but even these contained no tree of any great size. The little village presented in contrast a very pleasing appearance. Round a clean open space, in the centre of which were rows of juicy, green, young manioc-stalks, the huts, with their tall conical roofs, formed a large circle, bordered along one-half of its circumference by the Naponga brook, its wooded margin forming a charming background to the light grey soil and fresh straw-coloured huts. The inhabitants of the district adjoining the river are Mari, a Momvii tribe, who at the present day use the same language as the Monbuttu, and resemble them in appearance. Dwelling by the river-side, in villages lying far apart, they attend chiefly to the ferries, but also engage in