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the dark…red variety； which； being rather bitter； has a chance of escape
from the clouds of small birds which ruin the crops。 Sesame was common
throughout all portions of Central Africa； and throve well upon the poor
and light soil of Gondokoro。
The Baris were exceedingly neat in their dwellings； and their villages
were innumerable。 Each hut was surrounded by a small court composed of
cement made from the clay of the white…ant hills mixed with cow…dung and
smeared with ashes： these courts were always kept scrupulously clean。
The Bari hut differs from that of other tribes； as it contains an inner
circle； which can only be used by creeping on the hands and knees…first
through the entrance； which is only twenty…four inches high； and
secondly from the passage formed by the inner circle。 The inner walls
are formed of wattles and clay neatly smeared or plastered with cement。
They are quickly attacked by the white ants； which destroy the wattles；
but the clay is sufficiently tenacious to form a wall when the wood or
reeds may have disappeared。
The granaries are formed of wicker…work supported upon upright pedestals
of either hard wood or of stone； to resist the white ants； the
wicker…work is smeared with clay and cow…dung； and the roof is thatched
in a manner similar to the house。
The Baris are a great pastoral people； and possess immense herds of
cattle。 These are generally small active animals with humps； white is
the prevailing colour。 The sheep are small and the mutton is good； but
although the fine pasturage of the Bari country is eminently adapted for
sheep and goats； these animals are delicate； and require much attention
during the heavy rains； at which time they are always kept beneath a
roof at night； with fires composed of dry cow…dung to create a smoke
that will drive away flies or mosquitoes。
Like most of the tribes of the White Nile； the Baris have a strong
objection to sell their cattle； thus you may be surrounded by plenty；
but you may starve in the midst of beef。
Their large herds are confined at night within zareebas or kraals。 These
are formidable defences。 The cattle zareeba is a circular stockade
formed of a hard wood called by the Arabs abou…noos or abdnoos （ebony）。
This is an intensely hard black wood somewhat resembling ebony。 Piles as
thick as a man's thigh are sunk in the earth； so as to leave a fence or
stockade of about eight feet high above the surface； these piles are
placed as close as possible together； and interlaced by tough hooked
thorns； which when dry and contracted bind the stockade into a very
compact defence。 The entrance to this fort is only sufficiently large to
admit one animal at a time； thus the herd can be easily counted。 Within
the stockade are several houses； in addition to a few large circular
sheds for the protection of young calves。 The sheep and goats are kept
in a separate zareeba。
All the operations of the Baris are conducted by signals given by the
drum； precisely as our military movements are directed by bugle…calls。
The great drum that belongs to the headman or sheik； is suspended
beneath an open shed； so that it is always protected from weather； and
at the same time the sound could travel unchecked。 These drums are cut
and scooped with great labour from a peculiar wood； which is exceedingly
tough and will not easily split。 The Bari drum is exactly the shape of
an egg with a slice taken off the thicker end。 Some of these instruments
are very large； and as much as two men could carry on a pole。 Both ends
are hollowed through and secured with hide； but the broad end forms the
actual drum。 This is beaten with two short sticks of hard wood。 In the
early morning； shortly before sunrise； the hollow sound of the big drum
is always heard giving the signal by a certain number of beat's for the
milking of the cows。 The women and young men then commence； and when the
operation is completed； the drum beats again； and the large herds are
driven to pasturage。 The signal is repeated in the evening。 Should an
enemy attack the country； the sheik's big drum gives the alarm by a
peculiar series of beats； which if once heard can easily be remembered。
In a few seconds this loud alarm will be re…echoed by every drum
throughout the numerous villages； and the news of the attack will thus
spread by signal as fast as sound can travel。 A certain beat of the
sheik's big drum is the call for a general assembly； in which case；
should an enemy appear； the whole forces of the district can be
concentrated in one point。
The weapons of the Baris are finely…wrought lances； and bows with
horribly barbed arrows。 They seldom carry shields； as they are difficult
to manage together with the bow； and they impede the rapid movements'
which are the chief feature in Bari tactics。
The men are generally tall and powerful； always naked and smeared with
ashes； or on great occasions with red ochre and grease。 The women are
not absolutely bad…looking； but real beauties are extremely rare。 They
wear an apron before and behind of tanned leather； extending nearly to
the knees； which is only the outer garment； beneath which they wear a
neatly…made fringe of innumerable strings； formed of finely…spin cotton
thread； suspended from a leather belt。 Some of the wealthy possess
fringe composed of iron rings； neatly worked； so as to form a kind of
shirt of mail。
Every man is a warrior from his childhood； as the Baris are always at
war。 They are extremely clever in the use of the lance； which they can
throw with great accuracy for a distance of thirty yards； and they can
pitch it into a body of men at upwards of fifty yards。 From early
childhood the boys are in constant practice； both with the lance and the
bow and arrow； thus； although their weapons are inferior to fire…arms
properly used； they are dangerous in the hands of proficients against
men who； like my troops； were utterly ignorant of the art of shooting。
Fortunately for my expedition； the warlike Baris were not united
throughout their territory。 Nevertheless； I discovered that the Baris of
Gondokoro had made an alliance with those of Belinian； twelve miles from
head…quarters。 I observed that women were constantly passing to and fro
with baskets on their heads； carrying salt from Gondokoro； and each
returning with a goat； led by a string。 Excellent salt is found at
Gondokoro； real chloride of sodium； and this article enables the natives
of that district to trade with the interior； where salt is extremely
rare and of great value。 I had remarked that women； and sometimes men；
were met in my rambles through the forest； on their way to Belinian by
this concealed route； instead of taking the open path； this aroused my
suspicion； as the chief； Allorron； and his people declared that they
were enemies of the Belinian natives。
The position had become intolerable。 The fact could no longer be
concealed that the Baris were hostile。 No positive outbreak had
occurred； but the natives were sullen in their demeanour； and generally
avoided the new settlement。 Butchers' meat was exceedingly scarce； as we
had only a few cows that had been given during the voyage by the vakeel
o