in these countries, and the tribe paid far more
deference to his commands than to those of his brother,
“ Moy,” although the latter was the superior in rank.
One day I sent for Commoro after the usual funeral
dance was completed, and, through my two young
interpreters, I had a long conversation with him on the
customs of his country. I wished if possible to fathom
the origin of the extraordinary custom of exhuming
the body after burial, as I imagined that in this act
some idea might be traced to a belief in the
resurrection.
Commoro was, like all his people, extremely tall.
Upon entering my tent he took his seat upon the
ground, thé Latookas not using stools like the other
White Nile tribes. I commenced the conversation by
complimenting him on the perfection of his wives and
daughters in the dance, and on his own agility in the
performance ; and inquired for whom the ceremony
had been performed.
He replied, that it was for a man who had been
recently killed, but no one of great importance, the
same ceremony béing observed for every person without
distinction.
I asked him why those slain in battle were allowed
to remain unburied. He said, it had always been the
custom, but that he could not explain it.
" But,” I replied, “ why should you disturb the bones
of those whom you have already buried, and expose
them on the outskirts of the town ? ” '.
f “ It was the custom of our forefathers,” he answered,
•“ therefore wé continúe to observe it.”
“ Have you no belief in a future existence after
death I Is not some idea expressed in the act of
exhuming the bones after the flesh is decayed 1 ”
Commoro (loq.)—“ Existence after death ! How ean
that be Í Can a dead man get out of his grave, unless
we dig him out 1 ”
“ Do you think man is like a beast, that dies and is
ended ? ”
Commoro.— 1 Certainly? an ox is stronger than a
man ; but he dies, and his bones last longer; they are
bigger. A man’s bones break quickly—he is weak.”
“ Is not a man superior in sense to an ox ? Has he
■not a mind to direct his actions ? ”
Commoro.—“ Some men are not so clever as an ox.
Men must sow com to obtain food, but the ox and
wild animals can procure it without sowing.”
“ Do you not know that there is a spirit within
you more than flesh ? Do you not dream and wander
in thought to distant places in your sleep? Nevertheless,
your body rests in one spot. How do you
account for this ?”