326 BUFI TO RUMBEK,.

From the top of the groups of rocks which are scattered about, and which Dr. Schweinfurth has very well depicted, a ridge of hill was seen in the north-north-west. It was probably the mountain named Gurken by the Sofi, and Dokavuru by the Lesi. The Hyrax and graceful squirrels still play upon the rocks, and the Ptilopachys pair in the surrounding fields. The old zertba has vanished, and in its place are luxuriant corn-fields. JI shall, however, build a small station here, and willingly spare five soldiers for it.

After rather more than half an hour’s march, we arrived at the cataracts of the Yalo. The river, which is surrounded by magnificent vegetation, is divided here into three arms, separated from one another by islands, formed of a chaotic agglomeration of rocks, over which it is very difficult to climb. The name of Damlaba Manufo, 7.¢., the Great Rapid, is given to the easterly branch of the cataract; the number of fish it contains is quite marvellous. On the road we had already seen many people laden with fish twenty-four to forty inches long, which gave no very agreeable perfume to the air. The ground was covered with fish scales and bones, the remains of many suppers, for the natives often fish here all night long. Kiven the rocks are spotted white all over, an evidence of the presence of large numbers of fish-eating birds, the most important of which are herons and Haliaétus vocifer. More than twenty men were standing in the roaring rapids, the water being up to their waists; the circular nets are stretched over rods and simply let down into the stream and drawn along against the current, to reappear immediately with three or four fish. The principal fishing season is in November and December, when the river falls. Most of the spoil are fish of prey which follow the lead of swarms of Chromis. Many Sanseviera grow upon the rocks, as do bushes of Zinnea wthiopica, which were in bloom when we passed, and the ground was covered with the orange-yellow prickly fruits of the Cucumis Tiunneana.

The district inhabited by the Lési tribe appears to be very fruitful, to judge by the cultivation. Besides the usual species of corn, Hyptis, Voandzeia, and ground-nuts are cultivated.

Hunting must be extensively carried on, and with much success, for we noticed great numbers of pitfalls in the high