The Beri Tribe. 147 this season rain is by no means constant. At first there are intervals of a week or even a fortnight between the rainstorms, but after the middle of June, when the heavy rains commence, there is, as a rule, one storm during every 24 hours.

The temperature in these regions is comparatively cool, and the thermometer very seldom rises to 100° Fahr. Temperature.

The natives appear healthy, and there seems no reason why, with ordinary precautions, white races should not Health, enjoy equally good health, though the more southern portions, at any rate, of this district are certainly within the " Blackwater " fever zone.

(e) The Beri Tribe.

The following information is taken from a report by Captain N. T. Borton, who visited these people in Description April, 1904.

The Beri tribe appear to be a mixture of the Bari and Latuka. They live on a hill about 2,000 feet high called Jebel Lafol which is composed of granite with several fair sized trees growing on it. It lies about 50 miles south-east by east from Mongalla.

The hill is artificially terraced with granite slabs throughout and on these terraces, practically right up to the top Houses, of the hill, are built the tukls of the people, exactly similar to Bari Tukls except that the sides are made of strips of wood instaad of reeds. The fighting men live round the foot of the hill and the older people higher up.

There is no water on the hill itself — all has to be carried from rain pools of which there are at this time of year Water, about a dozen round and fairly close to the hill.

All cattle were driven of? during our visit and were only beginning to return when I left — there did not appear Cattle, to be many really large cattle zeribas, though these too may have been removed at our approach which had been watched for by day and night for the last three days.

Alikori* is the chief of the tribe and holds absolute sway. He is an oldish man of about 6.5 years of age, chief, about 5 feet 8 inches in height, and like nearly all his tribe, wears a feather quill piercing his lower lip to allow the saliva to run ofi, when smoking, with a minimum of trouble to the smoker.

The rule of succession is that brothers succeed each other according to seniority ; after the youngest brother's Succession, death, the succession passes to the eldest son of the eldest brother and so on through the family.

Alikori succeeded his father Aseri who had no brothers, the present heir apparent is named Waller Mari. All Beris stated they have no connection whatever with the Beir tribe opposite Borf and say they have no other Beris. district but Jebel Lafol. From the top of it one can see 50 miles or more in the Bor direction ; there did not seem to be any roads and no hills were visible. All tribes in thise parts live on hills.

Ths cultivation on the vast plain lying round the hill consists of dura, tobacco, and a few ground nuts only. The Cultivation. dura WIS about a foot high and appeared to be well looked after and the ground cleaned.

The only trade is the purchase of dura for sheep, carried on principally with the Lokova on Mount Illyria and a Trade, little with our Bari Sheikhs Lado, Lowala, etc. , on the Nile.

The present fashionable enemy is the Latuka tribe belonging to Queen Topein — relations with other powers are Enemies, reported as satisfactory.

The population probably amounts to about 3,000 men all told. Population. People seem very healthy, quite the opposite of the Baris ; no disgusting sights like one sees in their villages ; Health, malformed children are destroyed at birth. Sleeping sickness is unknown.

All disciplinary powers are vested in the chief. For premeditated murder punishment is death. For killing in Legal, quarrel, etc., the ofEender must pay a boy to the family of the deceased. Thefts of cattle must be repaid or the offender js exiled. Thefts of food are not looked upon as offences but as occasional necessities. For adultery the co-respondent must pay 1 cow, 5 sheep and 5 iron malotes (hoes) ; the wife is dealt with by her husband in the seclusion of the home, but must not be killed.

The birth of a child does not give an excuse for a festival of any sort. Customs. Marriages are arranged when the girls are very young. The bridegroom interviews his proposed father-in-law, as in other countries, and arranges to pay so many sheep a year until the lady reaches a marriageable age. The ceremony is then celebrated amid much merissa drinking. Divorce is allowed to husbands only ; if granted they receive back their marriage settlement. A widow marries her deceased husband's brother ; if she has no brother-in-law she may marry someone else, but she usually becomes the property of the head chief.

Death is believed to be the end of all things. No after state is believed in. A sheep is always killed over a dead I man's grave. The language is peculiar to the tribe.

Language.

* There is another branch of this tribe living further north under a chief named Lom {vide p. 144).