Villages.The houses of the villages are much scattered, which renders the occupants very defenceless in case of raids by the dreaded Beir or Beri tribe under sheikh Lom, who lives several days further inland in a south-easterly or easterly direction.
The tukls are well and neatly built, the walls being made of mud or dura stalks covered with daub. The doorway usually leads into a sort of hall or porch about 3 to 4 feet high; this again has an inner door. This is said to be for protection against hyenas.
The usual buildings of a family consist of one tukl (Ud) per wife, one extra large tukl (Luak as cow stable, and the “Gu” or granary, a kind of miniature tukl raised off the ground on wooden legs.
Water supply.In the rains water is stored in fulas, as the water in these gets low, a series of circular holes, 2 or 3 feet deeper than the fula, are dug round its circumference, and the remainder of the water is drained into them. These holes are then thatched with dura stalks, and water is economised by thus diminishing the loss by evaporation, as well as by draining the wet mud at the bottom of the fula.
When these holes run dry water has to be carried by the women often 10 miles or more from the river.
Communications.From Bor a dry road, though not yet explored, undoubtedly leads north to Twi or Twich. A good path with rest-houses at frequent intervals leads south up the right bank to Mongalla and Gondokoro.
Communication with the Aliab, a tribe rich in cattle and grain, living on the west bank opposite to and south of Bor, is maintained by dugouts to Uternau, thence by road to Sheikh Anok, Mek of the Aliab, who lives about 25 miles west of Bor Military Post.
Cultivation.A good deal of dura is grown by sheikhs Bor and Kur. It is of the white variety and of excellent quality. The Dinkas are great smokers, and cultivate sufficient tobacco for their requirements.
Cattle and sheep.Large numbers of cattle (Wong) and a good many sheep (Amal) and goats (Biu) are owned by these Dinkas. The grazing stables or cattle zeribas are called “Mura.” The price (Tiek) of a wife used to be five cows or forty goats. Cattle being now scarce, owing to Arabi Dafaalla’s prolonged residence at Bor, the price of a wife has been reduced to one cow.
Arms.Bows (Danga) and arrows (Juet) are in general use, and are looked upon as the principal weapon for fighting, as their lances are indifferently manufactured.