158 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



goats abounded. The path then ascended through bush 

 over high, rocky ground, to drop down and cross a fair-sized 

 river to Kombo in the valley. From Shillem this had been 

 a distance of twelve miles and had taken a day to accom- 

 phsh, while the boats were three days going round by the 

 river. The king was kind, and came out to meet him with a 

 present of a sheep and goat and wood, and brought him to a 

 pleasant camping-ground, promising to provide carriers 

 for the journey on the morrow. About twenty-one were 

 duly forthcoming, and among them Gosling discovered a 

 young girl, good featured and with pretty markings down 

 her side. She was wearing nothing but a thin strip of 

 leather with a tassel on the hip, and was carrying a very 

 heavy load which Goshng changed for a light one. 



The path again led up over rocks, hugging the foot of 

 a remarkable hill that ought to have been inhabited at 

 the top by the robber chief of the story-book. It is flat- 

 topped, with tremendous precipices on all sides, and its 

 melodramatic appearance was enhanced at this particular 

 time by a violent thunderstorm that circled round its crest. 



After fording the Yo river, sixty yards wide, Goshng 

 arrived at Gasi, where, despite some difficulty, with the help 

 of the decrepit old king, he raised a fresh lot of carriers. There 

 were twenty in all, including a woman and two very old 

 men. However, they were excellent goers and cheerful 

 under their loads. Soon he crossed the river Devana, and 

 two or three hours' march through bush and rocky hills 

 brought him finally up through a beautiful rocky gorge, 

 with a pretty stream below clothed in fine trees, making up a 

 landscape that was reminiscent of Scotland. On the farther 



