GRASS FIRES. 341 6. THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF THE GOK TO THE RIVER ROA AND BAcK TO THE RIVER YALO.

BUTTER-TREES—GRASS-FIRES—THE JOT—THE RIVER ROA AND ITS FLOODS —LANG IN GOK—IRON-SMELTERS—A COMMON HUNTING-GROUND—THE BELI—AN UNCANNY SHRUB—AN EVENING’S PASTIME—A FERTILE REGION—HUNTING TROPHIES—ARRIVAL AT GUERIL A BROAD grassy steppe stretched far away when we had left the corn-fields of Rumbek; it was bare of wood, but for some distance abounded in fine butter-trees (Bassias), which had been spared for the sake of the fruits and the fat which they yield. The Agar, as all other Dinka tribes, call this tree arak, to the Bari it is known as kunuri, and to the Arabs as lulu. In the Bari country, however, another butter-tree, the kuruleng (Stereospermum) is more common and more widely used. The ‘“ butter” of the Bassia is a fat of a reddish-white colour and of firm consistency, whatever the temperature may be. When fresh, its smell is not unpleasant, but cooked it has a burnt flavour, which does not suit everybody. ‘This fat, however, might very profitably be employed in the manufacture of soap. The country hereabout, with its solitary trees and scattered pile-dwellings, has a very different aspect from the countries in the south. Possibly it is a country where one may live better, but the south is certainly more beautiful.

Adol, a well sunk in whitish-grey loam, contained only a little bad water; but the ripe, sweet fruits of the jogan (Diospyros mespiliformis, called chum by the Agar) afforded our porters a welcome opportunity for a halt. Leaving this well, we were compelled to march between two lines of fire, the people having set fire to the grass on both sides of our road. Crowds of birds engaged in hunting insects were hovering over the tongues of flame, whilst Balearic cranes and marabou storks, similarly occupied, were stalking over the burnt ground. When we passed out of this scorching heat we entered upon a depression which, although dry at the time, is evidently often flooded, and then forms a swamp called Aber, which drains to the north. As we were unable to find any water here, and digging