Chap. LIIL THE KOMA'DUGU AT ZE'NGIRl'. 
27 
valley in the dry season, and read so many theories 
with regard to its connection with the Niger on the 
one side, and the Tsad on the other, it was of the 
highest interest to me to see it at the present time 
of the year, when it was full of water, and at its 
very highest point ; and I could only wish that Cap- 
tain William Allen had been able to survey this no- 
ble stream in its present state, in order to convince 
himself of the erroneous nature of his theory of 
this river running from the Tsad into the so-called 
Chadda, or rather Benuwe. Though the current 
was not very strong, and probably did not exceed 
three miles an hour, it swept along as a considerable 
river of about one hundred and twenty yards breadth 
towards the Tsad, changing its course from a direc- 
tion E. 12° S. to N. 35° E. While the bank on this 
.side formed a steep sandy slope, the opposite one was 
flat, and richly adorned with reeds, of different species, 
and luxuriant trees. All was quiet and repose, there 
being no traffic whatever on the river, with the 
exception of a couple of homely travellers, a man 
and woman, who in the simple native style were 
crossing the river, riding on a pair of yoked cala- 
bashes and immerged in the water up to their 
middle, while they had stowed away their little 
clothing inside those very vessels which supported 
them above the water; but notwithstanding their 
energetic labour, they were carried down by the 
force of the current to a considerable distance. Be- 
sides these two human beings, the river at present 
