Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/161

 by Denka and other tribes, who have sought refuge at the foot of the hills against the slavers of the lower Sobat. These fugitives have intermarried and formed new tribes differing little from the original stock. The level plains, watered by the Boko, are inhabited by the Yarobo or Gambo, whom d'Abbadie believes to be a branch of the Shilluks, while Schuver affiliates them to the Denkas. Farther on the land rises into plateaux inhabited by the Kirims, Malas, Ishings, and Matze Maleas, said to be of Negro origin. One of these tribes is said to consist of dwarfs not exceeding 4 feet 7 inches in height.

A community of the warlike Gumbil people recently occupied the skirts of the vast Wallega forest fringing the western foot of the Abyssinian highlands, under the same latitude as the Nile and 8obut confluence. The chief river traversing their territory to join the Sobat, they named the Komanji, or "Cow River," because their herds, during the dry season, finding no pasturage except on its banks, crowded down to the water's edge. To call down rain the Ganibil used to throw a flayed cow into the stream, believing that the farther the blood spread, the more copious would be the roinfall. They were one of the Nilotic Negro nations most remarkable for their bodily strength. Their distinctive tribal signs were two gazelle or goat horns fastened to the forehead, and they were also accustomed to extract the two incisors of the lower jaw. But of this tribe there are now very few left, the exterminating wars created by the Egyptian "civilisers" having extended even to the plain of Eomanji. Robbed of their cattle by the Arab traders, the Denkus of the Nile fell upon their Gambil neighbours to restock their farms. A ruthless warfare, waged for the purpose of plunder, ensued between the two nations, in which the Gambil were defeated. Some fled eastwards to the upland Abyssinian valleys, and sought refuge with the Legas, a Gulla people, who received them merely to reduce them to slavery. Others escaped to the south, a few only still wandering about their native plains. Their capital, Komavjok, is nothing but a ruin, like their old market-town lupiel, where the Legas bartered their metal wares and glass trinkets.

Better protected by their mountains, the Komas, occupying the north-east portion of the former Gambil territory, south of the Upper Yal affluents, still form a considerable nation. The Arabs have as yet visited them only in the character of merchants, and the "Turk" is not sufficiently known to be feared. The Komas are, moreover, a peaceful nation, having been undisturbed by wars for some centuries. Having no need to defend their country, and never making slave raids against their neighbours, they are bad archers. But though they do not distinguish themselves as warriors, they are skilful agriculturists, and their fine crops of igname and cereals are more than sufficient to support the people. They barter the wild honey abundantly funiished by their forests for iron, salt, and other articles.

The Koma mountains, about 6,660 feet high, are one of the most pleasant regions in the whole of Africa, enjoying an equable climate, not too warm, and never so cold as to necessitate the wearing of heavy garments. The sloping land is extremely healthy, and the picturesque hillocks, verdant valleys, and limpid streams on every side combine to form a charming landscape. The huts scattered