300 LADO TO KEDIBA.

Hoplopterus and Sarciophorus tectus are also frequent guests. One of the most curious members of our flora, Adeniwm speciosum, Fenzl, fittingly compared by Marno to a baobab left sticking in the earth, is very often found here; the Bari call the plant Lorént. We had to wade knee-deep in water and mud through the broad swamp (which we had crossed the previous year at a point much farther south) in order to reach the Makraka road, which leads, over a slightly rising and very sandy region in the district of Kuji, to numerous euphorbia enclosures, where, at the time of Dr. Junker’s travels here, a great many hamlets and herds were to be seen. ‘To-day the woodpeckers hammer upon the fences, and wild grass and Solanacesze cover the ruins of the huts, with more sympathy than men, who at this very place hunted down the cattle and their fellow-creatures.

Nersho’s small village of Koka, where we passed our first night, lies in the midst of Lubia fields, to which the clumps of trees on the sandy flats form a pleasing contrast. The total absence of palms is remarkable. The Hibiscus sabdariffa, which is grown so extensively in the Shuli country, is cultivated here; its purple leaves, and a white or purple fleshy calix and large pale yellow flowers, give it a very showy appearance. In the Shuli country the calix is relished on account of its acidity, but the Bari only use the seeds, a mucilaginous decoction of which is poured over their mealporridge. We had had to leave the Makraké road to get to Koka, and now we had to find it again by the help of the glorious moonlight. Our picturesque procession made its way straight over the sand and through the thorns: a motley company—people from Nyambara and Amadi; Chief Doli, with his numerous nude and lusty beauties; lanky, narrow-chested Agar; soldiers, and Danagla. Majestic trees, chiefly sycamores and tamarinds, and sometimes Parkias, formed thick woods here, and then we came to tall grass, bent low by the wind and its own weight, and often blocking the road. Numerous game-tracks and elephant-runs cross these plains.

As soon as we reached the Makrakdé road, a view opened up of Jebel Malokwan and the chains of Reko and Mire; behind, Jebel Kunufi, and to the left, Jebel Veya (Vio), and several more