NATIVE VILLAGES. 307 which the crops are sown ; but it must be remembered that for the rest of the year it is a matter of much difficulty to obtain water for a large household. It is so scarce that frequently long journeys have to be taken in search for it. The Baggara, who are true nomads, breed the cattle ; their further occupation consists of kidnapping cattle and slaves, and fighting among themselves, for which they appear to have the strongest predilection. Their huts are very temporary structures made of mats, resting upon a rude framework of sticks.

The villages of the settled population are open groups of well-made huts, generally having mud walls and thatched roofs, with square or oblong rakubahs, which are simply frames of wood covered with dok'n-stalks, intended for the purpose of giving shade. Each group of huts is surrounded by a low hedge of thorns, thus forming yards, which as a rule present a very dirty and disorderly appearance, and often contain cattle, dogs, and partially naked people, all huddled together.

There is very little religion among the people, but they are very superstitious, and thus ensure a livelihood to a goodly number of lazy fakirs, who are also the scribes of the people, as all fakirs must be able to read and write Arabic.

After death common people are buried in a shallow grave, which is covered with a heap of stones, but when an especially devout fakir is buried, a few x2