26 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LIII. 
two principal branches, the one coming from the 
country of Bedde, and the other more from the south. 
But, notwithstanding the great circuit we made, we 
had to ford several very extensive backwaters stretch- 
ing out, in the deeper parts of the valley, amidst a 
thick belt of the rankest vegetation, before we reached 
the real channel, which wound along in a meander- 
ing course inclosed between sandy banks of about 
twenty -five feet in elevation, and, with its rich vege- 
tation, presenting a very interesting spectacle. The 
forest in this part is full of tetel, or Antilope oryx, 
and of the large antilope called " kargum." The few 
inhabitants of this district, although they do not 
cultivate a great deal of corn, cannot suffer much 
from famine, so rich is the supply of the forest as 
w r ell as of the water. Our evening's repast, after 
we had encamped near Zengiri, was seasoned by 
some excellent fish from the river. However, I must 
observe here that the Kaniiri in general are not such 
good hunters as the Hausa people, of whom a consi- 
derable proportion live by hunting, forming nume- 
rous parties or hunting clubs, who on certain days 
go out into the forest. 
Having made a good march the pre- Friday, 
vious day, we were obliged, before at- December 3rd - 
tempting the passage of the river with our nu- 
merous beasts and heavy luggage, to allow them 
a day's repose ; and I spent it most agreeably 
on the banks of the river, which was only a 
few yards from our encampment. Having seen this 
