270 LABORE TO FATIKO.

nately, the season of the year rendered this direct road to Fauvera impracticable, and, much against my inclination, I was compelled to go by way of Fatiko. The route from here to Dufilé was said to lie in a westerly direction, but no one had travelled by it. Khor Asua, which lies at some distance from here, is crossed, they say, in going to Fattko.

Chief Aguék has become a thorough Dongolaui in dress and manner, speaks Arabic fairly, sits and sleeps on an ankareb, and regales his guests with coffee, but nevertheless his numerous wives and children appeared in the national costume, 2.¢., almost nude, adorned only with short tails of cotton. The Shuli have a greater liking for glass beads than any other tribe of this country ; small crimson and white opal beads are particularly prized. The men plait cowrie-shells and beads in their hair, but their tresses are not so elaborately arranged as among the Shuli living farther to the south and east. Iron ornaments are everywhere the order of the day, and the gorgets, which actually cause the neck muscles underneath to shrink, and bracelets and anklets, as well as chains and ornaments for the girdles, are very neatly made. A Shuli smith was working close to the chief's premises. His bellows were formed of large clay vessels, having, at their bases, spouts drawn out at right angles to carry the blast; they were covered at the top with leather, having rods fastened in the middle, which are worked up and down to cause the draught, and are kept in action by a boy. Large stones serve as anvil and hammer; the tongs are made of a piece of wood, split at the end, and a piece of iron to polish the work completes the apparatus. JT ining the iron is never practised. At the time of our visit bits were being made for donkeys, which are numerous.

The men are clothed in skins of antelopes, goats, and sheep, and skins of the cheetah (Cynailurus guttatus) are also much worn. Ifa rag of cloth can be procured, it is worn somehow, the head being covered first. Ostrich feathers are much admired, and are worn as head ornaments, the white feathers being dyed red with iron ochre. The ostrich is said to abound throughout the Lango country. . Girls go about quite nude, and the women’s dress consists only of a tail of cotton threads, twelve inches long, hanging