216 GONDOKORO TO AGARU.

eranite, striped red and black, lay on the banks, where we found solitary Adenias, with their underground stems and purple blossoms. Jebel Torkola, which we soon reached, was partly covered by bamboos, and on its summit glittered and sparkled large plates of mica, which is found throughout this district. ‘The mountain itself consists of grey granite. Jebel Longébo, which we reached after crossing Khor Gollolindu (known farther down as Mirshuk), is usually named Jebel Bonjurem, after the Bari tribe living there. Unfortunately, not a drop of water was to be had, and a storm coming on suddenly, converted the yellow loam into a stiff mud without providing drinking-water. ‘The nearest village lay far away on the mountain, and its inhabitants did not show themselves, although Befo, their chief, was with us; so when the rain abated a little we had to leave our refuge—a magnificent tamarind—and, wet and still thirsty, we continued our journey. Rounding the last spur of Jebel Longobo, which rises in the shape of a beautiful pillar, called Lili, we passed through fine park land to Jebel Molere, a rather long range, on the slopes of which lies the village Ulikare, where we encamped under a mighty butter-tree.

The population of this district is very large, judging from the number of villages in sight; the ground is well cultivated. It consists of coffee-coloured vegetable mould, overlying, to a depth of three feet, a stratum of granitic rubble; here, too, water is scarce. Wells have been dug in the deepest part of a fold of the ground, which comes down from Jebel Molere. These wells are about ten minutes’ walk to the east-south-east of the village. They are about six feet deep, and fill by percolation ; their water is not clear, and is not exactly improved by the habit the people have of washing themselves in it before they fill their vessels.

Here Chief Befo took leave of us, after furnishing us with porters; he did not venture to proceed farther, on account of a blood-feud which exists between him and Rugang, the great rainmaker and chief of the Liria district ; he would probably have been made away with long before this if he had not prudently joined us. A great deal of rain must have fallen here, for the forest—still the open Bari forest—is beautifully