The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-25

ne croDencd down 10 this way fer full
three hours, while the buzzlng continued
uninterruptedly, and solitary stines peno-
tfated through the linen covering Every
one Oh board pursued the same course and
gradually the buzzing subsidized. Atlcnetla
some courageous fellows crept ssealtFiIy
to the bank, and set ERE 10 the reeds. The
smoke which rose blinded and stupefcd
the bees 50 that the boat was successfully
driven beyond their reach, Free from
further apprehension, the sufferers pro.
eeeded to examine their injuries. Some
Of tho stings were extracted with pincers,
but those which remained produced ulcers,
and even fever, which kept the whole boats
company in an uncomfortable state for
several days.
The banks Of the White Nile arc inhab-
tied by the Baggara Arabs as far south as
the boundary of the Shillook and Dinka
countries Their tented camps were 70 be
seen all along the shore. Their wealth
consists simply Of cattle. They are not,
however, shepherds, butwarlike from their
youth; they are holder robbers than any
other Of the Ethiopian nomad races, and
most fearless In the chase. The Nubians
Of Schweinfurth's party saluted the Bag
CARA with loud cries Of "Habbabkum r
(good friends and the boat was often
stopped to purchase provisions from them,
fine fat bullock costing only the small
sum Of three dollars.
The approach to the Shillook country
was indicated by the appearance now and
then Of solitary Shillook drifting on the
water in his fragile boat. The Shillook Is
not entitled to the ahabbabkum," because
he is heather he is Knocked with 'iWod-
e-Mek' (son Of king) for greeting,
made to tell where he comes from and
whittier he is going, and II he has any fsh,
1t is taken from him such Is the practice
on every vessel. But the shiIlooks are
also subject to Egyptian rule, and there Is
no reason to doubt that in short time
they will enjoy equal rights with the other
subjects Of the Vieeroy, however insignifi-
cant these may appear TO be.
! The Shillook tribe inhabits the entire
left bank Of the White Nile, occupying a
territory about two hundred miles long and
about ten miles wide, and which extends
to the mouth Of the Gazelle River. This
territory is densely populated After the
subsection of the Shillooks to the Egyptian
government census was taken, which re-
suited in an estimate Of about / 200 900
souls. These Shillooks are the first tribe
of wild sayages which DR.. Sehweinfurth
encounters. As his boat neared the land
ing of the first village a great crowd Of
naked creatures swarmed together to re-
ceiye him. The first sight Of throng Of
savages suddenly presenting themselves in
their complete nudity must make a very
strange impression upon the traveller fresh
from the civilization Of Europe. But the
Shillooks seemed to be equally impressed
with the fair skin and, more especially, the
fine straight hair of the traveller. Indeed,
all through Africa, when Schweinfurth
wished to confer great favor on the ma
tiyes in return for some courtesy, he allow
ed them, greatly to his own disgust, let il
be said, to feel Of his hair. The Shillooks
are accustomed to arrange their own hair
in all manner Of fantastic forms, which are
fastened with gum-arabic and ashes, some
heads bearing resemblance to the comb
Of guinea, fowl, others to helmet, or, it
may be, to huge fan. Even while they
are infants at the breast the work Of fast
ening the hair into some particular shape
is begun, and in time it becomes effecfu-
ally clothed together, SO as to permanently
retain the desired form.
These savages are accustomed to plaster
their bodies with ashes as a projection
against insects, which gives them thor
oughly diabolical aspect The movements
of their lean, bony limbs are SO languid,
and their repose SO perfect, that whoever
comes as novice among them can hardly
resist the impression that in gazing 1t these
ash-gray forms he Is looking upon mould
ering corpses rather than upon living be-
ings.
Tho only conception the Shillooks enter
tain of higher existence Is limited to their
reverence for certain hero, who Is called
the Father Of their race, and who l. sup
posed to have conducted them to the land
which they at present occupy. In case Or
famine, or in order that they may have
rain, or that they may reap q good harvest
they call upon him by name. They mag
inc Of the dead that they are lingering
among the living, and still attend them
they cherish old traditions, and yenorate
the memory Of their ancestors with all the
4 fervor that more civilized nations bestow
upon their religious belief
At Fashoda, a small town provided with
garrison for the maintenance Of egyptian
power, DIR. Schweinfurth stopped several
days in order to complete his store Of pro
visions, and also 70 await the arrival Of
several boats which were to accompany him
to the Gaxelle River. He improved the
time by making short excursions inland,
and by Watching the customs Of the Shil-
looks. The Egyptian governor Of this
portion Of the ShiIlook country appears 10
be complete sovereign, regulating not
only the public but also the private affairs
Of his subjects. One day a young GIL,
abashed and detected, came to him, and,
with her speech half choked By emotion,
she besought him to interpose his authori-
ty to set aside the obstacles which her pa
rents threw in the way Of her completing
her marriage engagement with q young
Shillook, whose name was Yod The hin
derauce to the wedding was simply the fact
that the young man possessed no cattle
! possession Of cattle among Shillooks 40
well as among pinkas being the sole dis
tinction between rich and poor. The gov
srnor inquired whether Yod was moi AZ