A LIVE CHIMPANZEE. 355 and having walls ingeniously made of bundles of straw, so as to present a chequered pattern. A lofty mass of gneiss lies close to the village, and repays an ascent, as many mountains are visible from its summit, the bearings of which had been taken on former occasions, and among which were Jebel Osd, Jebel Togodo, the two jagged peaks of Donvu and Jebel Paya, as also Jebel Riku, which we had long since left behind us. The grass was ablaze all around, and the dense smoke, ageravated by a strong northerly wind, made it difficult to read the compass. Numerous minor peaks peeped out from the forests round us, and our road led past one of them, Jebel Taya. A very small village, which we reached about half-past twelve, afforded welcome rest after a six hours’ march in the scorching sun; unhappily, the scanty supply of water obtainable from its wells smelt so badly that, notwithstanding our great thirst, we took no delight in drinking. Fortunately Chief Tokkoro’s village, Kenyi, or Kenyi masa, lay at a distance of only twenty minutes’ walk. This extensive place abounds in filth, especially at this time of the year, when many of its inhabitants are absent, but we were able to obtain a drink of good water from the river which flows past it. A further march of twenty-one minutes brought us to the Amadi station, where we were delighted to find awaiting us a young chimpanzee, a present from the Monbuttu chief, Mbitima.

During my short stay here I set the station in order, and distributed the soldiers, who had arrived during my absence, among the out-stations. Scarcely an hour remained for taking bearings to render my former surveys more complete. <A nearly total eclipse of the moon occurred on the 5th of December, and was hailed by the Danagla, as is customary, by knocking together all their tin pots and shrieking. Letters from the Meshra-er-Rék, which informed me that the steamer Lordén might be expected at any moment at Ladé, compelled me to hurry my departure. From these same letters I learnt the mournful news of the death of Mgr. Comboni.

The Ayi, or Yei, is of considerable width at this place, and reached up to our knees. Having forded it, we passed Jebel Merre, where a large herd of elephants was peacefully feeding, and made straight for the lofty black rock of Killa, >>