Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/163

 The upland valleys of the Yal, north of the Koma, belong to the Amam, whom Mateucci wrongly terms the African "Patagonians." They are certainly tall, but not so tull as the Nuer and Kij; but they have so successfully repulsed the Egyptians that they are described as giants and reputed cannibals. Their customs resemble those of the Eomas.

The Suro, who roam on the border of Kaffa south of the Gambils, are said to be tributary to the latter state. They have already been brought into the circle of Abyssinian political influences. Like all the tribes plundered by the Abyssinians, they are culled "Shangalla" by the plateau populations; but this designation implies no connection with the Shangalla of the north, such as the Bazeh. Although frequently visited by the Arab merchants, the Suro are still wild pastors, like the Shilluks. They go naked, excepting the women, who wear a narrow loincloth; the chief alone wears garments, the insignia of power. Like several Nilotic Negroes of the same race, the Suro extract two teeth from the lower jaw, and insert a disc of wood in the lower lip. They also pierce and thrust blades of grass through the lobe of the ear. Like their civilised neighbours of the plateau, they eat no other flesh but that of their herds.

The riverain peoples of the lower Sobat, although bearing various tribal names, all belong either to the Nuer or Shilluk family. The formidable Gibhas, Bonjaks, and Mivaks are isolated Shilluk communities; while the Baloks, settled more to the west, and the Ndiekens lower down, are Nuers. Lastly, the populations of the lower valley, near the confluence, are Shilluks separated from the main body of the nation only by the breadth of the Nile. The Egyptian Government had formerly established the military post of Nanser on the Sobat, about 120 miles above the confluence;—but the expenses of maintaining it not being covered by the small trade, and the land being of little value, it was abandoned in 1876. At present the vast unexplored basin is claimed neither by Abyssinia nor Egypt, and its political system is in the fragmentary and shifting state produced by the continual displacement of the tribes by emigration or by conquest. But these unexplored regions traversed by the Upper Sobat and its affluents, will doubtless become one of the most frequented parts of Africa, as it is here that the water-parting between the White Nile and the Indian Ocean can be most easily crossed. The border range between the Kaffa mountains and the volcanic highlands of the Masai country is partly interrupted by broad openings, at present occupied by fierce Galla tribes, and forms a natural communication between the watersheds.

The Shilluks, who occupy the left bank of the Nile from below the Sobat junction to Abha Island for a distance of over 360 miles, are one of the largest African races, and the only one on the banks of the Nile recognising a bando^ or king, ruling all the tribes, and selling as slaves those whom his anger or justice lights upon.

The riverain zone inhabited by the Shilluks is only from ten to twelve miles broad, the plains of the interior being occupied by the Baggara (Bagara), or "Cattle Arabs," pure or mixed, so called on account of their large herds of cattle.