The extraordinary influx of damaged aquatic plants continued for many
days, and unmistakably denoted the rise in the level of the Albert
N'yanza at that season (say 1st Nov.). Above the falls, in N. lat. 3
degrees 32", there is very little current in the broad deep Nile; and in
about N. lat. 3 degrees this river is several miles in width, with no
perceptible stream. In those propitious calms the Pistia Stratiotes
grows in vast masses along the shores, and the annual rise of the lake
creates a current which carries the plants towards the cataracts, and
consequent destruction.
By this sign I conclude that the maximum of the Albert N'yanza would be
during the month of November.
LANGUAGES.
The following list of words will afford a fair example of the
differences in language of the various tribes between Gondokoro
and the equator:
Lobore. Bari. Shooli. Unyoro.
A fowl ... ... A-oo. Chokore. Gweno. Unkoko.
A mat ... ... Gallaca. Tero. Kaboone. -
Flour ... ... Arafoo. Bolo. Mocha. Obsano.
Fire ... ... Arsi. Kemang. Mai. Moora.
Water ... ... Yee. Feeum. Pee. Maizi.
Milk ... ... Leh. Leh. Chak. Amattai.
A cow ... ... Tee. Kitang. Deaug. Inte.
A bull ... ... Moniko. Moni. Tu-an. -
A dog ... ... Orke. Diong. Gunoah. -
Rain ... ... Yee. Koodoo. Kort. Injoore.
The sun ... ... Yetakali. Narlong. Tschen. Musanne
A chief ... ... rpi. Mattat. Ruort. Matongali
A sheep ... ... abeelo. Kabisho. Ramo. Imbuzi.
A goat ... ... ndree. Keene. Deall. Imbuzi.
The moon .. ... mbah. Yarfah. Dooe. Quezi.
The stars . ... eebi. Katchikoo. Lakori. Nynerzi.
Flesh ... ... sah. Lokore. Reugo. -
Dhurra (corn) . sih. Keemak. Gyah. -
A basket .. ... voch. Soodah. Adooku. -
Beads ... ... ecoh. Sooksook. Teko. Unguanze.
Coracan Elcusine Loque. - Kaal. Burroi.
Unyoro Unyoro
A tree ... ... Bisale. Halt ... ... ... Indeenda.
Far off .. ... Arrace. Go away ... ... Taisa Genda.
Near ... ... Aiee. Come here . ... Igghia.
Not far .. ... Ampi. Sit down ... ... Iu-karra-hanze.
A house .. ... Engooi. Get up ... ... Im-mookka.
Plantains ... Bitoki. A man ... ... Moosogga.
Beans ... ... Koli. A woman ... ... Mookazze.
Butter ... ... Maggita. A girl ... ... Miss-sooki.
A canoe .. ... Obwato. A boy ... ... Um-wana.
A paddle . ... Engaiee. A thief ... ... Moosuma.
A mountain ... Orsozi. (Lubari or
The earth ... Intaka. Fish ... ... (Enchoa.
The sky .. ... Iggohr. Wood ... ... Bitl.
A road or path Muhanda. Eggs ... ... Yooli.
Go on ... ... Togendi.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
It is a singular fact that, although the domestic ox, sheep, and fowls
are found everywhere among the negroes of Central Africa, there is no
trace of the original stock among the wild animals of the country. The
question arises - where did they come from?
Dogs are domesticated, and are used by the natives in their hunts.
Those of Central Africa are miserable pariahs, but they are nevertheless
much prized by their owners.
After the attack at Fatiko by the slave-hunters, which resulted in the
dispersion of their party, upwards of 170 dogs became houseless. The
natives asked my permission to capture them, and, having spread their
hunting-nets, they drove the dogs as they would wild animals, and daily
secured a great number, which they trained to hunt the calves of
antelopes and the great grass-rat (Anlacodus Swindernianus).
Negroes have no sympathy with the young of wild animals, and I have
never seen a pet animal or bird in their villages. Although I offered
two cows for every young elephant they might catch, I never could
prevail upon them to spare the little ones. Five were speared ruthlessly
in one day, within two or three hours' march of Fatiko. A negro is never
seen without his spear, and he finds the greatest pleasure in sticking
it into either something or somebody.
DISEASES.
Small-pox is prevalent, Cholera rarely attacks the country, but it is
known. Dysentery is very common in the White Nile districts, but it is
rare in the highlands. This complaint is generally fatal at Gondokoro.
Great caution should be used, and impure water avoided. Marsh fever is
the general complaint of the low ground, but is rare in the highlands of
Fatiko and Unyoro.
I have never met with typhoid fevers in Central Africa, although they
are common at Khartoum.
Measles, whooping-cough, scarlatina, croup, diphtheria, are quite
unknown.
Blindness is only the result of extreme age, and is very rare. I never
saw a case of mania, nor have I ever met more than one idiot in Central
Africa. The brain appears to be exercised as a simple muscle of the
body, and is never overstrained by deep thought or by excessive study.
There are no great commercial or parliamentary anxieties; no struggles
to keep up appearances and position in society against the common enemy,
"small means;" no hearts to break with overwhelming love; but the human
beings of Central Africa live as animals, simply using the brain as a
director of their daily wants. Thus in their simple state they never
commit suicide and never go mad. Their women never give birth to
cripples or monsters, as the sympathetic uterus continues in harmony
with the healthy brain.
I have seen only two dwarfs. These were in Unyoro, one of whom was
described by Speke (Kimenya): he is since dead. The other was at the
court of Kabba Rega, named Rakoomba. We measured this little fellow, who
was exactly three feet and half-an inch in height, at the age of about
eighteen years.
The teeth are remarkable throughout Central Africa. I have examined
great numbers of skulls, and I never found a decayed tooth. Many tribes
extract the four front teeth of the lower jaw. The bone then closes, and
forms a sharp edge like the jaw of a turtle.
MAMMALIA*
(*Mr. Sclater, of the Zoological Society of London, has furnished me
with the scientific names of the antelopes and other mammals.)
The principal animals and birds in the Shooli country are: -
Native name.
Gezella dama. Lajooar.
Nanotragus hemprichianus. Amoor.
Cervicapra lencolis. Teel.
Cervicapra ellipsiprymna. Apoolli.
Cervicapra arundinaera. Oboor.
Alcelaphus bubalis. Poora.
Trageiaphus scriptus. Roda.
Hippoacayus Bakeri Aboori.
Camelopardalis giraffa.
