TEE RIVER ROD I. 127 obtain was that it flows into the Nile at Shambil, that it is navigable for many days to the south, and that it rises to the west of the hills at Dufli, where it is said to divide, one part flowing west, and then north-west to the Bahr-el-Arab (?), and the other part is this river, which flows through the Monbuttu country before it arrives here. In the Madi dialect, Eodi is the name for " river." TVe crossed the river in a good ferry-boat, and were kindly received by Achmet Hassen Efiendi El Boure, at Madi, a large village on the bank of the river. The huts are all built on piles some twenty feet high, and are well made with wattle and daub walls ; the reason for building them raised above the ground is that during the harif, or rains, the river overflows its banks and the country round becomes one vast swamp. This is the chief settlement for this Madi district, and from here many expeditions are sent yearly into the Monbuttu country for ivory, and doubtless also for slaves ; and many boys are mutilated here. In 1879, 700 cwts.

of ivory were sent from here to Khartoum. There were a good number of Arabs and dongolowees here, a disreputable lot of men ; and Achmet Hassen told us that they were very unruly, and that he had often great trouble in keeping them in order. Achmet Hassen is nearly related to Yussef Pasha, who, when Mudir of the Bahr-el-Ghazel Province, used to be a great slave-dealer ; it appears to be the custom in