AT GUMBIRI. 361 homesteads were mostly enclosed by hedges made of strong beams and thorns, probably as a protection against the numerous lions. The villages in this district are generally situated upon the tops of hills, and the numerous mounds and mountains have quite a romantic appearance. Jebel Loka, called Jebel Kuerkuit by the Bari of Bedén, forms an excellent landmark, on account of its peculiar shape. It is seen for a considerable distance, unless, as is often the case, its summit is hidden by clouds.

We stayed the night in the village of Kerbolong, near the mountains, and then proceeded to the adjacent station of Gumbiri. The rain sufficed to wet me through and to interfere with my work, but did not damp the spirits of the porters. After passing through the fields which surround the village of Goddu, our road led through swampy lowlands, where swarms of yellow-backed widow-birds (Penthetria macroura) were climbing about the tall grass; then we reached a broad road, made by the Gumbiri people, for which in such weather we were doubly grateful.

The station of Gumbiri, in Fajelu, our farthest outpost in the Makraka district, was reached early, and we remained there for one day. As the station had only just been built and the surrounding natives were still rather timid, my stay could not be thoroughly utilised. I have, however, been able to ascertain on this journey that Khor Bibia has been till now over-estimated, and that, like Khor Luri, it receives its waters from the Loka and Kero mountains. It is said that Kiri, on the Bahr-el-Jebel, can be reached from Gumbiri in four days’ march through very mountainous country. After marching between the eleusine fields which surround Gumbiri, and which are divided by deep ditches separating one man’s property from another, we arrived at high grass land, where numberless khors rush over blocks of rock; the latter often form bridges over the streams, but usually cause rapids. Here and there, swampy stretches were covered by small woods of Vatica. Troops of chattering wood-hoopoes were to be seen in the numerous butter-trees. Two small hills near the road, at the foot of which there were many fungiform termite structures, are called Kéniy and Mundid, names given in Fajelu, as well as