378 THROUGH ABAKA COUNTRY TO GOSA.

12. THROUGH THE ABAKA COUNTRY TO GOSA.

TOMAYA—LUXURIANT ‘“ GALLERY” WOODS—THE MPAFU-TREE—THE ABAKA —GREAT COLD—CHIEF ANSEA—ATROCITIES OF THE DANAGLA—NATIVE SELF-HELP—THE BABUKUR—GOSA— COTTON-WEAVERS.

_AFTER leaving Kabayendi, we wandered through a very hilly country, in which many gneiss peaks were to be seen, to the pretty little village of Mindi, where, from the top of a high hill, I obtained a good view over the rows of the Abukaya mountains, which lay to the north. The chief of the village was an intelligent fellow, so that I was able to obtain from him the real names of the mountains, the Nyam-Nyam generally being accustomed to give the name of the nearest chief as that of the mountain (for instance, Mbia Maloguma, the mountain of Maloguma). Large stretches of land, over which the road then led, were lying fallow, for the people only cultivate the land for a couple of years at a time. I noticed again here huge boulders, at the foot of one of which Khor Hord flowed, hidden between thick masses of reeds. ‘This khor forms the boundary between the Makraka and the Abaka, who, it appears, are not always good friends. An almost treeless flat, overgrown with fine grass, extends from the foot of the hill of Badia to Khor Asa, a clear mountain stream, which forms at the ford a small waterfall. Its water, for a wonder, did not contain iron, so that, after the mineral waters we had had to drink for some days, 1t was very refreshing. The small station of Tomaya, so named after the chief of the surrounding Abaka, lay at a few minutes’ distance uphill.

It may be well to mention here, that since Dr. Junker travelled in this district, nearly all the chiefs and villages which he mentions have changed their positions, with the exception, of course, of such places as Wandi, Kabayéndi, Rimo, and Ndirfi, which have become permanent Government stations.

The scenery around Tomaya is diversified; rocks, wood, meadows (if I may use this expression in Africa), and flowing waters fringed by bush, make the place a rich storehouse for the collector. JI found here many species of birds for the first