Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/132

 dresses to perfection. The Lango women are the finest and most symmetrical in the whole region of the equatorial lakes. They wear little clothing beyond waist-bands, necklaces, armlets, and rings.

South of the Nile is found another ethnological group, formed by the Wa-Tchopi or Shefalu, in speech and appearance resembling the Shilluks, whose proper domain lies some six hundred miles farther north. According to the national traditions, the Shefalu are descended from a conquering people, who came originally from that direction.

Masimli, on a river flowing to Lake Albert, was the residence of the king of U-Nyoro when the country was first visited by Speke, Grant, and Baker. But in 1877 it was replaced by Nyamoga, which is also conveniently situated in the centre of the region enclosed between the lake and the great bend described by the Nile below M'ruli. The latter place, which occupies an important strategic and commercial position on the Nile at the converging point of the caravan route from U-Ganda, has ceased to be the advanced southern outpost of the Egyptians. Even before the Mussulman revolt in Dar-For the troops had been withdrawn from M-ruli and from Kirota, which lies in a forest clearing farther north-west. The western bulwark of the Khedive's possessions is, or was till recently, Foweira (Fawera, Fauvera, Faveira), whose site has been shifted to a cliff on the east bank of the Nile near the Kubuli confluence, and not far from the point Avhere the river trends westward to Lake Albert. North of the river stands another fortified station near the Karuma rapids, and north of Panyatoli, residence of one of the most powerful Wa-Nyoro chiefs. A third Egyptian fortress in U-Nyoro is Magunugo, on the right bank of the Nile, where its sluggish, current joins Lake Albert. Being enclosed by a ditch ten feet broad, this place is impregnable to the badly armed and undisciplined troops of the Lango or Wa-Nyoro chiefs. East of Magungo steamers ascend the river as far as the wooded gorges of the Murehison Falls.

Mahaghi (Mahahi), another fortified station, has been formed by the Egyptians on the west side of Lake Albert, where it is sheltered by a headland from the northern winds. The whole of this coast region, which takes the name of Lur, is inhabited by Negro tribes akin to those of the Bahr-el-Ghazal, and speaking a lansuasre which differs little from that of the Shuli east of the Nile. In habits they resemble the Wa-Nyoro, with whom they formerly maintained constant commercial relations, and whose suzerainty they recognise; without, however, paying any tribute to the king. South-west of the Egyptian station are some hot springs, sulphurous, like all hitherto discovered in the Upper Nile regions. A considerable traffic is carried on by water between both sides of the lake, especially with the ports of M’bakovia (Vacovia) and Kibero, where salt is yielded in abundance by the surrounding argillaceous clays.