336 RUMBEK.

garden is situated, the trees of which—dates, lemons, and pomegranates—planted by Malzac, were half withered, owing to want of pruning and water. Water is very scarce; it is obtained from deep wells, and has a dirty colour and a nauseously earthy taste. The whole situation of the station so far from all water is a great mistake, and its formation into a central station can only be explained by its convenience for the slavetrade. In one day I set free and sent home 165 Monbuttu, of whom 41 were taken from the hut of the chief of this district, a certain Mula Effendi, of course a Dongolaui, and 400 Agar, Kich, and Atwot (Atot) slaves; these numbers are proof sufficient of the state of matters. In Rumbek there is no lack of places for prayers, decorated by white flags, and still less of fakis.

The Agar, who live round the station, are a curious people, and although a good deal has already been written concerning the Dinka, of which they are a division, it may not be out of place to devote a few words to them. ‘They are polite and complimentary to excess, and so self-conscious that not one of them would ever eat with a Mittu. Although the Khartum settlement has existed here for more than twenty years, 1t is almost impossible to procure any porters from them. They still possess a considerable quantity of cattle, notwithstanding the numerous raids and thefts to which they have been subjected. Slavery has, however, been introduced among them, and with it the demoralising use of brandy, that distilled from dokhn, which is very strong, and contains much fuseloil, being accorded the preference. ‘These are the results of the civilisation introduced by the twenty years’ residence of the Danagla amongst them.

In their habits and customs the Agar have remained completely unaffected. The girls go about nude until they marry, even if this event does not happen for many a long year. Whoever touches the breast of an unmarried girl must pay the usual cows and marry her; if he refuses to marry her, he must at any rate pay the cows, and she must wait for a husband, who can obtain her at a smaller valuation. At the time when cattle were very numerous in this country, the price for a good-looking girl was fifty or sixty cows ; now eight or ten