344 GOK TERRITORY TO RIVERS ROA AND YALO.

- the tall Dinka. When the river is flooded, the district on either side is covered for a long distance by water, so that at such times the ford would present great difficulties. The river is feared on account of its vicious crocodiles. The number of oysters (Htheria) in it compelled us to cross with care in order to avoid their beds.

The district of Abredl begins at the river; it is inhabited by Gok, and not by Bongo. It is a park-like district, in the middle of which is the station of Lang (the Dinka name for Zizyphus), which is generally called by the natives Gok-el-Hassan, after its chief. This is the old well-known robber nest Sherifi, as Dr. Schweinfurth calls it, and although Sherif Babekr and Sherif Osman were long ago killed by Abd-es Samat’s famous trumpeter, Ingeleri, they took care to leave numerous heirs. Danagla zeribas stretch far and wide over the country, surrounded by the crops of the Bongo, who have settled here, but who, although living amongst the Dinka, preserve their nationality intact. As I only remained one day in this station, and as my time was fully occupied by official duties, I had, of course, little time to investigate the state of affairs here, but the Danagla appeared to be little pleased at my arrival, and held prayer-meetings to hasten my departure.

Very much against the wish of Musa Bey, a very energetic official, we marched next day, and after again fording the river, which had slightly fallen, we returned over the old slippery road to Abiai. From there we marched along the road towards Jot, and leaving the road that leads direct to Rumbek to our left, our path led over open plains covered with thickets and strewn with iron nodules. This circumstance showed that the country was rising. To the right, a sea of grass stretched out for a long distance, occasional large swamps intervening. This grassy expanse extends as far as the river, forming a refuge for numerous hippopotami and herds of antelopes, and in the dry season, after the grass has been burnt, it is the scene of great hunts.

After a short rest we continued our monotonous march. Now and then our road was bordered by swamp, but it led mostly through light wood, and then through extensive