THE BELINIAN CHAIN. 289 6. From GONDOKORO TO OBBo.

(Letter to Consul Hansal in Khartim, dated Obbo, May 23, 1881.)

THE BELINIAN MOUNTAINS—ANIMAL LIFE—MUSCOVY GLASS—LOKOYA AND ITS HILLSIDE VILLAGES—LIRIA—OKKELA, A SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE— LATUKA AND ITS PEOPLE—THE UNEXPLORED REGION TO THE EAST— PALM FORESTS—AGARU AS A HEALTH RESORT—FADIBEK AND ITS TRADE —AN EXCURSION TO FAJULLI—LANGO VISITORS—OBBO—RETURN TO THE NILE.

In order to inquire into some complaints which had reached me, and at the same time to inspect our new stations to the east of the Bahr-el-Jebel, I went through Gondokoro to Tarangole, in Latuka, thence through Agaru to Fadibék and Fajulli, returning to this place by Fadibék, and I intend to go through Kérefi to Labére, and then to the south-west.

The route from Gondokoéro to the adjacent Belinian range, and thence to the Lokoya mountains, in the Liria district, was, on the whole, better dealt with in the older investigations of Morlang and Peney than on Baker’s meagre map. You remember that a broad sandy plain, with open acacia woods and abundant doléb bushes, stretches out from Gondok6ro towards the Belinian chain. To the north this plain slopes down to the swamps of Bor and Ber, while to the south its margin rises up to the mountains of the Bari and Shuli countries. The region is very rich in game. Numerous herds of elephants wander over the wide plain, for they are very fond of the fruit of the Balanites, which are exceedingly common here.

Unfortunately, lions are a sore plague to man and beast. The ascent begins shortly before Belinian, so that Befo’s village, Urbare, though apparently in the same wide plain, is much higher than Gondokéro. The Belinian chain itself, and the country round it, are well cultivated and thickly peopled; numerous herds of cattle and goats—sheep are very rare in the _ Bari district—were grazing on the short green grass, accompanied by hundreds of buff-backed herons. Water is not wanting, for the Kirinion, here called Kadwé, a very important _ khor, provides water all the year, and also plenty of fish. Its 1;