laboured at the task and we despaired of salvation.

In the end, after many searchings of heart, vvc found

a man of the Nuer tribe who knew the secret of the

waters, and he removed the barrier. We questioned

him concerning the matter, and he informed us that

it was custom of his tribe to tie the floating weeds

together, in order that the cattle might cross from

one side of the river to the other. Furthermore, when the season of summer arrived and the waters

of the rivers dried in their beds, the natives were

wont to drive their cattle to the river's bank in

order to graze and drink. But the merchants, as

they came and went to barter their goods, would

shoot the animals as they drank of the river and

steal the flesh. So it was that, to prevent the merch-

ants from destroying their cattle, the savages

increased the size of the barrier. Then we continued

on our way until we arrived at Meshra el Rek,

where I hired some blacks as porters and start-

ed by land in the Bahr el Ghazal, my desire being

to explore new country that had never previously

been visited by merchants. Wherefore I ceased not

to pass through the country of Jankat and the Jurs

and El Bangu, until I came to the land of Golo, over

which was set one Kuwaki. I was treated by him

with great honour and hospitality, and I traded in

the country until I had accumulated a great abun-

dance of ivory, ostrich feathers, and other of the

more valuable products of those parts. These I sent