6 FROM LADO TO DUFILE.
caused by the fact that the women perform most of their duties kneeling, and also by their being obliged to crawl into the huts on account of the low doorways. Another thing worth mentioning is the almost invariable disproportion in the development of their breasts, one being much smaller than the other. Umbilical hernia, caused by the navel cord being torn at birth instead of tied, is frequent in both sexes; hydrocele is often seen; and elephantiasis scroti is met with here and there. The people try to protect themselves from syphilis, which is very prevalent, by inoculations upon the arm.
A passable road leads from Kiri to Latuka. The height of Kiri above sea-level is 1567 feet. After two days’ rest there, while I awaited the arrival of a young officer who was to accompany me, we entered upon a hilly country, seamed in all directions by rocky ravines. Jrequently the path is crossed by ridges of tightly packed stones, apparently radiating from accumulated heaps of rock, and looking as if they were intended to divide the country into definite parts. Here and there, in the midst of high and beautiful trees, Doléb palms are seen, the first met with since leaving Bor. ‘The narrow river, broken by many a rock, foams and roars between the hills, which completely shut out the view of the country beyond. There can be no question of navigation here, and the route as far
as Dufilé can only be traversed by land. ‘To the east and south he the blue mountain masses of Kelen and Kuku. The road, which has led over gneiss rubble and white sand, in which fragments of mica were seen, becomes broken shortly before Mugei is reached by many deep rain-furrows and several swamps. <A short march brought us to the station of Mugg, which is situated close by roaring rapids, its height above the sea-level being about 1640 feet. Porters having to be changed here, a short sojourn was indispensable, and permitted time for making collections. A good specimen of Rhabdogale mustelina, which is very common here, was brought me.
Harly next morning, as soon as the necessary porters had assembled, and after each had found his load—our porters, you must know, are very capricious—the formidable file was
set in motion. The first part of our way led over level ground, with here and there a few boulders. Then followed