448 LETTERS TO DR. SCHWEINFURTH.

remembered, particularly by the Zandé, and that, when I inquire after the names of plants or am collecting seeds, | am very often asked if I am your fellow-countryman. It is beyond the comprehension of people here, as well as in other parts of the country, how a man can trouble himself more about animals and plants than about slave-girls, and can show greater interest in mountains and rivers, valleys and plains, than in making raids on the Negroes’ cows and goats. And the people are certainly not to be blamed, for who has taken trouble about these things from disinterested motives until now ?

I have tried to draw up a genealogical tree with the view of acquiring a knowledge of the real ruling families, and of distinguishing the numerous claimants and upstarts from the rightful masters of the country, and now I have a fairly clear idea of this subject, so puzzling to a novice. I append the curious result of my researches :— Ert. + | Mébolo. + Menzigga. + > ti | | Takuba (Tikibo) Nabimbali (founder of Western branch). + (founder of Eastern branch). + Ns ie | Muapa. + Miuinza. + Sanga (Kebir). Abunga. + | Sanga Mambelé. Mbala. Gongo. + | Zisi. Ndula+ (the family Ndula is properly Bamba).

Degberra.+ His sister is Dekera, + | Kupa+, Ktibi+, Bondo+, Banda+, Enemasi+, Yangara.

N.B.—Degberra’s sister, Dekera, married Nabimbali, chief of the Monbuttu, who associated with himself his brother-in law, Degberra, and invested him with a part of his territory at the expense of his son, Abunga. From him Yangara is descended.

I should certainly like to have extended my journey a little farther to the west, where every step would have brought me nearer to Junker’s farthest point, or to the south, whence I re-