234 GONDOKORO TO AGARU.

nude; men of different districts, all armed with shields and spears—the genuine Latuka people, recognisable by their slight figures and long faces; those from more southern districts by short stout bodies and round faces—all nude and adorned with iron ornaments, ivory rings on the upper arm, broad copper rings as necklaces, and helmets of shining brass or copper plates, surmounted by waving ostrich-plumes. Some of them wore a cap made of basketwork. After our reception was over, we visited the summit of the hill, whence a splendid view is obtained, extending from Mount Loligono, in the Ber country, northwards over the whole Lokoya range, to the west, and to the high peaks of the Obbo mountains, in the south and south-west, where the horns of Jebel Asal tower up—so named on Baker’s map, but called by the Bari “ Ekara,” and by the Latuka “ Chufal;” then away to the long lofty ranges of Molong and Kilio, the defile leading to Tarangole, with its hills rising up like sentinels, and finally the long range of Lafit, which closes the scene on the north-east—a typical Alpine landscape!

About an hour and a half’s march from Loronio brought us to Ongolet, or Longolet, one of the above-mentioned hills, some 400 to 450 feet high, the summit of which was occupied by a strongly fortified village. Round about were well-tilled fields with vegetable mould of a chocolate-colour, and corn-fields just becoming green, and gradually losing themselves in thin woods of Balanites and acacias. Chief Latome accompanied me thus far, and then sent me as a farewell present an elephant’s tusk weighing about eighty rotl. On all sides little torrents rushed down to Khor Koz, which we always kept to our right, now flowing nearer to, now farther from, the road, and invariably marked by a thick green belt of trees. The soil here is of a stiff yellow loam, which, softened by water, gives to the latter its yellow tint.

The village of Loriajo, situated an hour and a half from Longolet, is one of the few Latuka villages lying on the plain, and is only defended by a thorn-hedge. Like others, it is divided into different quarters, each having a chief and a watchtower. In this case they number seven. As the village is small and most of the inhabitants were out working in the fields,