Annnhs ; Nasser, etc. 135 The Anuaks would not appear to be either a courageous or warlike race like the Nuers, and seem content to merely cultivate their fields and remain at peace with their neighbours. Their spears are generally small headed, with long handles, and it is by no means unusual to see some men armed with nothing but sharp-pointed sticks hardened at the ends. Knobkerries are carried by most men. The older married women all wear skins, cured or otherwise, round the loins. Some of these are daintily picked out with a border of vari-coloured small beads.. A large quantity of beads are also very commonly worn both round the waist and neck. The attire of the younger women and girls is really most attractive. In addition to a numerous accumulation of beads round the neck, they wear a large number of strings of beads round the waist of many difTerent colours, whilst a small fringe, as it were, of generally white opaque or light blue and white beads depends in front and behind, some 2 to 3 inches in length round the body. As the girls are often very beautifully formed, and possess pleasant, laughing and occasionally really pretty faces, a group of them together forms a most charming picture of modest maidenhood.

The upper reaches of the Baro are not well cultivated, and beyond the point where the Faidherh was abandoned, the population is very scanty, and little or no food is obtainable from the natives ; the river banks become very stony and thickly wooded, and what little cultivation there is to be seen hereabouts is generally on the islands.

Nasser, situated on the left bank of the Sobat, 160 miles above its junction with the White Nile, is the residence pHncipal of a police officer and detachment of police. It is also garrisoned by half a company of a Sudanese battalion under villages, a British officer (January, 1904). Little trade is as yet carried on as the Nuers who live in the vicinity have not yet got Nasser, over their aversion to dealings with a civilized Government.

By the treaty of May, 1902, the Emperor Menelek agreed to lease to the Anglo-Egyptian Government an area itan<' of about 1,000 acres in the neighbourhood of Itang, for the purpose of forming a trading station there. Itangis on (Fiukio). the right bank of the Baro, roughly 100 miles above Nasser, and is in the Anuak country ; a station was established here in January, 1901. As, however, the site is not a very suitable one a more convenient one at Finkio further east has been adopted. The Sheikh of Finkio is named Ojilo.

Although it is not practicable for probably five or six months in the year to maintain direct steamer communication with Nasser, the post should be absolutely self supporting. Shallow draught steamers drawing say 15 inches could, however, probably reach Finkio during 10 months of the year.

In addition to grain of various kinds, cotton is also grown by the natives in small quantities, and tobacco is very commonly to be obtained. Flocks of goats and sheep are numerous ; but the natives will not readily part with their live stock. Cattle are only to be seen very rarely, as the natives fear to possess these lest they should attract the cupidity of the Abyssinians.

The Anuaks are very ready to sell flour and grain in exchange for beads, more especially in the Finkio district, which is very largely populated. They also hire themselves readily as carriers.

The most popular bead is a small light blue opaque one, the only opaque species of small bead obtainable in Cairo. A string of this bead, sufficiently large to pass over the head on to the neck, will purchase from 1 to IJ pounds of flour, and perhaps 2 pounds of grain. A fowl can also be obtained for about the same quantity of beads. Possibly white or small green opaque beads would be equally sought after, but a blue and white bead, known in East Africa as the " punda malia " (zebra), would, everywhere in these regions, be eagerly sought after by the natives. Many of the Anuaks wear these beads, though how this species has got into the country, except, perhaps, gradually from the north of Lake Rudolf, where they may have been bartered in 1 898, is difficult to understand.

The best trade goods would be white, green, pale blue (all must be opaque and not glass) and " punda malia." Beads would be the main purchasing medium for grain, and perhaps brass wire and cloth for goats and sheep.

In a short time money may be introduced — as at Kodok amongst the Shilluks — as the Gallas, being neighbours of the Anuaks, and familiar with the Maria Theresa dollar, would readily bring down goats and sheep for sale, and the Anuaks would probably soon follow suit.

Besides tapping the fertile food-producing districts of the Anuaks, trade in ivory, cof!ee, live stock, donkeys, and mules, and in addition, perhaps gold and iron, in smaller quantities, will spring up with the Gallas when they find a ready market for their goods.

Several more or less important streams and khors join the Baro in its upper stony region on both banks. Chief Tiibutiuies of these are the Sako on the right bank and the Bonga on left bank. Sobat and Lower down on the right bank, Khor Jokau or Garre joins the Baro by, some say, two mouths, one at Jokau about 40 miles west of Itang, the other at Machar* 15 miles further west, where the post to mark the Sudan- Abyssinia frontier has been erected.

* Though the sup|)o.sef] mouth at Macliar is deep and .30 yards wide, whilst that at Jokan is only 5 yards wide, there seems good reason to doubt if the former i.s in any way connected with the Khor Ciarre. Capt. Wilson was informed by the natives in February, 1!)04, when the Machar was entirely dried up, whilst the Jokau was a strong flowing stream 3 feet deep, that the former is not a mouth of the Garre. In June, 1904, the discharge of the Jokau was very marked, being of a muddy-white colour sundar to the Pibor. At Machar, on the other hand, though the klior did contain water, perhaps an overflow from the Baro, no discharge was noticeable.