natives as the Choi. The east bank of that stream is
occupied by the Gallas, who have frequently invaded
the Latooka country. There is an interesting circumstance
connected with these invasions, that the Gallas
were invariably mounted upon mules. Neither horse,
camel, nor other beast of burden is known to any of
the White Nile tribes, therefore the existence of mules
on the east bank of the Choi is a distinguishing feature.
Both Abyssinia and the Galla being renowned for
a fine breed of mules affords good circumstantial
evidence that the Akkara tribe of the Choi are true
Gallas, and that the Latookas may be derived from
a »rmilaT origin by settlements after conquest.
The great chief of the Latookas, “ Moy,” assured me
that his people could not withstand the cavalry of the
Akkara, although they were superior to all other tribes
on foot.
I have heard the traders of Khartoum pretend that
they can distinguish the tribes of the White Nile by
their individual type. I must confess my inability on
this point. In vain I have attempted to trace an
actual difference. To me the only distinguishing mark
between the tribes bordering the White Biver is a
peculiarity in either dressing the hair, or in ornament.
The difference of general appearance caused by a
variety of hairdressing is most perplexing, and is apt
to mislead a traveller who is only a superficial
observer ; but from the commencement of the negro
tribes in N. lat. 12° to Ellyria in lat. 4° 30' I have
found no specific difference in the people. The actual
change takes place suddenly on arrival in Latooka,
and this is accounted for by an admixture with the
Gallas,
The Latookas are a fine, frank, and warlike race.
Far from being the morose set of savages that I had
hitherto seen, they werè excessively merry, and always
ready for either a laugh or a fight. The town of
Tarrangollé contained about three thousand houses,
and was not only surrounded by iron-wood palisades,
but every house was individually fortified by a little
stockaded courtyard. The cattle were kept in large
kraals in various parts of the town, and were most
-carefully attended to, fires being lit every night to
protect them from flies ; and high platforms, in three
tiers, were erected in many placés, upon which sentinels
watched both day and night to give the alarm in ease
of danger. 8 The cattle are the wealth of the country,
and so rich are the Latookas in oxen, that ten or
twelve thousand head are housed in every large town ;
thus the natives are ever on the watch, fearing the
attacks of the adjacent tribes.
The houses of the Latookas are generally bell-shaped,