 the spirit of
Nyakang, the semi-divine hero who founded the dynasty and settled the
tribe in their present territory, to which he is variously said to have
conducted them either from the west or from the south. Tradition has
preserved the pedigree of the kings from Nyakang to the present day. The
number of kings recorded between Nyakang and the father of the reigning
monarch is twenty, distributed over twelve generations; but Dr. Seligmann
is of opinion that many more must have reigned, and that the genealogy of
the first six or seven kings, as given to him, has been much abbreviated.
There seems to be no reason to doubt the historical character of all of
them, though myths have gathered like clouds round the persons of Nyakang
and his immediate successors. The Shilluk about Kodok (Fashoda) think of
Nyakang as having been a man in appearance and physical qualities, though
unlike his royal descendants of more recent times he did not die but
simply disappeared. His holiness is manifested especially by his relation
to Juok, the great god of the Shilluk, who created man and is responsible
for the order of nature. Juok is formless and invisible and like the air
he is everywhere at once. He is far above Nyakang and men alike, but he is
not worshipped directly, and it is only through the intercession of
Nyakang, whose favour the Shilluk secure by means of sacrifices, that Juok
can be induced to send the needed rain for the cattle and the crops.(49)
In his character of rain-giver Nyakang is the great benefactor of the
Shilluk. Their country, baked by the burning heat of the tropical sun,
depends entirely for its fertility on the waters of heaven, for the people
do not resort to artificial irrigation. When the rain falls, then the
grass sprouts, the millet grows, the cattle thrive, and the people have
food to eat. Drought brings famine and death in its train.(50) Nyakang is
said not only to have brought the Shilluk into their present land, but to
have made them into a nation of warriors, divided the country among them,
regulated marriage, and made the laws.(51) The religion of the Shilluk
the spirit of 
 Nyakang, the semi - divine hero who founded the dynasty and settle the 
 kin in their present territory, to which he is variously said to have 
 behave them either from the west or from the confederacy. Tradition has 
 preserved the pedigree of the king from Nyakang to the present day. The 
 number of king recorded between Nyakang and the father of the predominate 
 monarch is twenty, distributed over twelve generation; but Dr. Seligmann 
 is of public opinion that many more must have reigned, and that the genealogy of 
 the first six or seven kings, as given to him, has been much abridge. 
 There seems to be no reason to doubt the historical quality of all of 
 them, though myths have gathered like clouds round the persons of Nyakang 
 and his contiguous successors. The Shilluk about Kodok (Fashoda) intend of 
 Nyakang as having been a man in appearance and physical qualities, though 
 unlike his imperial descendants of more recent times he did not die but 
 simply disappeared. His holiness is manifest especially by his relation 
 to Juok, the great god of the Shilluk, who created man and is responsible 
 for the order of nature. Juok is formless and invisible and like the breeze 
 he is everywhere at once. He is far above Nyakang and men alike, but he is 
 not worshipped immediately, and it is merely through the intervention of 
 Nyakang, whose favour the Shilluk secure by means of sacrifices, that Juok 
 can be induced to send the needed rain for the cattle and the crops.(49) 
 In his character of rain - donor Nyakang is the great benefactor of the 
 Shilluk. Their country, baked by the burning heat of the tropical sun, 
 depends entirely for its fertility on the waters of heaven, for the people 
 do not resort to artificial irrigation. When the rain fall, then the 
 grass sprout, the millet grows, the cattle thrive, and the people have 
 food to eat. Drought institute famine and death in its train.(50) Nyakang is 
 said not merely to have brought the Shilluk into their present land, but to 
 have made them into a nation of warrior, divided the country among them, 
 regulated marriage, and made the laws.(51) The religion of the Shilluk
 thf spirit of
Nyakang, the stmi-divine hero who foundxd the synasty xnd settled the
tribe in theic prwsent territory, to which he is variolsly said to iave
conducted thxj eithev froj the xest or from thg south. Tradhtion has
presesvdd the pedigree of the kings from Nyahang to tje present day. The
mtmbed of kings recorded between Nyakanf and tie father of thr reigning
monarch is twentj, didtributed over twepve generatuons; vut Dr. Seligoann
is of opinion that many more must have reigned, ana thac the geneaooty lx
the first wix og seven kings, as givet to hik, has been mucm abbceviqted.
There seems to be no reason to doubj the histmrncal character of all od
them, thoggh otthr hzvx gztheref lmke clouds dound the pwrsons of Nyakang
anc rpx immediate auccesfows. The Shilluk about Kodok (Fashoda) thinn or
Nyakang as having been a man in appearance wnd physisal qualities, though
unlike his royal descendants mf moce reeckt tkned he did not die but
simply disappeared. His hojjntss is manifested especially bj nys relation
to Juok, cge great god of the Dhilluk, who xreated mwn amd is responsible
for the oreer of naturv. Juik is formless and invisible cnd lile thr air
he is everywhere ac once. He is far wbove Nyaixng and men alikd, blt ha is
not worshipped directlr, and it ms onky throjgh jhe intqrcession lf
Nyakang, whose favour tje Shnlluk secure by means of sacrifices, that Juok
cei be induced jo veng the nezded rsin for the cwttle and the erops.(49)
In kis chxracter of rain-giter Nyakang ys the great tgnefactor of vhe
Shilluh. Thwir xountry, caked by the birning hecu of the teopical sun,
depends enjidely for its fexuiluty on the watets uf rewvxn, fow the people
dm nog rdxort go artificicl irrogation. When the rait famls, then the
grass xpvouts, the millet drows, the catyle thrive, and the peopne iave
fopd jo eat. Drought brings famine ans death ij ibs train.(50) Nyakwng ls
sayd not onlv to have brought the Shilluk into their present land, but ro
have made them injo s nation of warryors, diviged the country amont them,
regulated msrriage, and made the maws.(51) Tve repigion of the Shilluk
the spirit of Nyakang, the semi-divine hero the and settled tribe in their is said to have them either from west or from the south. Tradition preserved the pedigree of the kings from Nyakang to the present day. The of kings recorded between Nyakang and the father of the reigning monarch is distributed twelve but Seligmann is of opinion that many more must have reigned, and that the genealogy of the six or seven kings, as given to him, been much abbreviated. There to be no reason to the character of of though have gathered like round the persons of Nyakang and his immediate successors. The Shilluk about Kodok (Fashoda) think of Nyakang having been in appearance physical though his royal descendants recent times he did not die His holiness is manifested especially by his relation Juok, the god of the Shilluk, who created and is responsible for the order of nature. is formless and invisible and like the air he is everywhere at once. He is Nyakang and men alike, he is not directly, it only the intercession Nyakang, whose favour the Shilluk secure by means of sacrifices, that can be induced to send the needed rain for the the In his character rain-giver Nyakang is the benefactor the Shilluk. Their country, the heat sun, entirely its fertility on the of heaven, for the people not resort to artificial then the grass sprouts, the millet grows, the thrive, and the people have food to Drought brings famine and death in its train.(50) Nyakang is said not to have Shilluk into their present land, but to have them into a nation warriors, divided the country among them, regulated marriage, and the The religion the Shilluk
 the spirit of
Nyakang, the semi-Divine hero Who foUndEd tHe DynaSty aNd settled the
trIBe in Their present territory, tO whicH hE Is vaRIoUsly sAid to haVE
cONDucTeD tHem EiTHeR from The West or fRom the soutH. TrAdItion has
presERvEd the pedigRee Of the kings frOm NYakang To The PResenT daY. The
nUmber oF Kings rEcorded beTwEEn NyakANg and thE FAtHer oF the reigning
monarCH iS Twenty, distribuTed oveR tWElVE GenEraTions; but Dr. seLigmaNN
is of opINiON THat MAny more must haVe reigned, anD ThaT the geNeAloGY of
the First SiX Or sEven kings, as GiveN to him, has Been muCH abbrevIAted.
TheRe seemS to Be nO reaSOn To DouBt THe hIStOriCAl cHaracter Of AlL of
thEm, thOUGH MythS haVe gaThereD like clouds roUnd The pERsoNs of NYakanG
and HiS immeDiate sUccesSoRs. The Shilluk aboUt KoDok (FashodA) thInK of
nyAkang AS havinG beEn a Man in apPearancE And PhYSICaL qualities, though
unLiKE HiS royal deScendaNTs Of MOre recenT tImeS he dID Not diE but
SImPly disapPeared. hIs HoLiness iS mAnifesTeD esPecIally BY his RelatiOn
to Juok, The grEAt god of the ShilLUk, who created mAN aND Is REspoNsiBle
for the orDer oF NatuRe. JuOK iS foRMless And inViSIbLE and like the air
he is eVeRywherE at onCe. He is far abovE Nyakang anD MEN alike, buT he iS
NoT Worshipped direCtly, aNd it is only THrough thE inteRcession Of
Nyakang, WHOse favouR thE ShIllUk sECUrE by means of sacRIFiceS, tHat Juok
Can Be inducEd tO seNd tHe nEeDed rain foR the cattLe AnD tHe CroPs.(49)
In hIS charactEr Of rAiN-giVer NyAKang is The grEat bEnEfACtoR of the
SHIlLUK. TheIr CoUntrY, baKeD by thE burNIng Heat of tHe tropicaL suN,
DepeNdS eNtirely For its fertiliTy On the waterS oF heAven, foR THe people
Do not resort to artificial IRrigatiOn. WHen thE raiN falls, theN thE
grass SprOUts, the Millet Grows, ThE caTTLe thrIVE, aNd tHe People have
FOOd tO eat. DRoUght Brings fAmine and death in its TRaiN.(50) Nyakang is
saiD noT onlY TO hAve BRoUGht ThE shiLLUk into their presEnt land, but To
HAvE made them iNTo a NaTion of wArriors, DividED the couNtry among Them,
regulAtEd maRRIagE, and made thE laws.(51) The Religion oF The ShILlUk
 the spirit of
Nyakang, th e semi-div ine h ero  wh ofoun dedthe dynasty an d  set tled the
tribe in thei r pre se n t te r ri tory,  to whi c hh e  is  v ar iou sl y  s aid t o h ave
con ducted the m e it her from the we st or from  th e south. Tra dit ion ha spre s erved  th e ped igreeo f thekings fro mN yakang to thep r es entday. The
number o f  k i ngs recorded b etween  N y ak a n g a ndthe father  o f the reignin g 
m o n a rch is twenty, di stributed o v ertwelve  g ene r ations ; but  D r . S eligmann
is  ofopinion t hat ma n y morem ust hav e reig ned , a nd t h at  t hege n eal o gy  of the  first s ix  o r sev en k i n g s , as  gi vento hi m, has been m uch  abb r evi ated. 
Ther e se em s tobe noreaso nto doubt the hi stor ical char act er  of  a ll of them,tho ugh  mythshave ga t her ed l i ke  clouds round thepe r s on s of Nya kang
a n dhi s  immedia te  su cces s o rs. T he S h il luk abou t Kodo k  ( Fa shoda)th ink of 
N yak ang  as h a ving  beena man in  appe a rance and phys i cal qualities ,  t h o ug h 
unl ike  his royaldesc e ndan ts o f  m ore recen t tim es he did not die but
sim pl y disa ppear ed. His holin ess is man i f e sted esp ecia l ly by his relatio n
toJuok, theg reat god  of t he Shill uk, who c r e ated man  an d i s r esp o n si ble
for the o r d er o fnature.  Ju ok is f orm les s a ndin visible a nd liketh eai rheis ev e rywhereat  on ce . H e isf ar abo ve Ny akan gan d  me n alike ,  b u t  heis 
n ot w ors hi ppeddire c tly , and i t is only  th r ough  t he  interc ession of
Nya ka ng, whosefa vou r theS h illuk se cure by means of sacrif i ces, th atJuokcanbe induce d t o send  th e  neede d rain  forth e c a t tle a n d  t hecr ops.(49)
I n his  char ac terof rain -giver Nyakang ist hegreat benefac tor  oft h eShi l lu k . T he i r c o u ntry, baked bythe burnin gh ea t of the t r opi ca l sun,depends  enti r ely for  its fert ility onth e wa t e rsof heaven,  for the  people
d o  notr es ort t o a rtific ia l i rriga tion.W hen  therain f al ls, th en th egrass sp routs, the millet grows , thecattl e t hrive, an d t h e p eople hav e
fo od to eat.  Dr oug ht br ing s  fami ne a n ddea t h initst rain.(50) Ny aka n g  i s
said noto n l y t o hav e b r oughttheShilluk into thei r  present land,  but t o
h ave made  t hem into a nat ion  o f warriors ,divided the  country  a m ong t hem,
r egulat ed marr i a ge ,  and m adethe  laws.(51 ) T he religio nof the Sh illu k
 the_spirit of
Nyakang,_the semi-divine hero who_founded the_dynasty_and settled_the
tribe_in their present_territory, to which_he is variously said_to have
conducted them_either_from the west or from the south. Tradition has
preserved the pedigree of the kings_from_Nyakang to_the_present_day. The
number of kings recorded_between Nyakang and the father_of the_reigning
monarch is twenty, distributed over twelve generations; but_Dr._Seligmann
is of opinion_that many more must have reigned, and that the_genealogy of
the first six or seven_kings, as given_to_him,_has been much abbreviated.
There_seems to be no reason to_doubt the historical character of all_of
them, though myths have gathered like clouds_round the persons of Nyakang
and his_immediate successors. The Shilluk about_Kodok (Fashoda)_think of
Nyakang as having been_a man in_appearance and_physical qualities, though
unlike_his royal descendants of more recent_times he did_not die but
simply disappeared. His holiness_is_manifested especially by_his_relation
to_Juok, the_great god of_the_Shilluk, who_created_man and is responsible
for the order_of_nature. Juok is formless and invisible and_like the air
he is_everywhere_at once. He is_far above Nyakang and men_alike, but he is
not worshipped directly,_and it_is only_through the intercession of
Nyakang, whose favour the Shilluk secure by means_of sacrifices, that Juok
can be induced_to send the needed_rain for_the_cattle and the_crops.(49)
In_his character_of rain-giver Nyakang is the great benefactor_of the
Shilluk._Their country, baked by the burning_heat of the tropical_sun,
depends_entirely for its fertility on the_waters of heaven, for the people
do_not resort to artificial irrigation._When_the_rain falls, then the
grass sprouts,_the millet grows, the cattle thrive,_and the people_have
food to eat. Drought brings famine and_death_in its train.(50) Nyakang is
said not_only_to have brought the Shilluk into_their_present_land, but to
have made them_into a nation of warriors, divided_the country among them,
regulated marriage, and made the laws.(51)_The religion of_the Shilluk