216 
TRAVELS m AFRICA. 
Chai». LIX. 
quite dry and as yet without any preparation for cul- 
tivation, we directed our march straight for a pass 
in the mountain- spur which 1 have mentioned above, 
and which is called Duko ; but we found it too 
narrow for our heavily-laden camels to pass through, 
the path being cut into the sandstone like a gutter, 
so that I was obliged to send my train round the 
southern slope of the promontory. We thus de- 
scended almost to the level of the faddama ; but hav- 
ing traversed a richly-wooded vale with a variety of 
trees, such as dynnia, madachi, and fresh kade, we 
had another mountain- spur on our left, while on the 
right the exuberant savanna of the valley became 
visible. The place was enlivened by cattle, and occa- 
sionally by a sheet of water at times fringed with a 
rich border of vegetation, amongst which also isolated 
specimens of the deleb palm, besides dorowa, were 
not wanting. 
Thus we reached the foot of a rocky eminence, on 
the top of which the walled town of Kola is situated 
in a very strong position, commanding the whole 
passage of the valley. It is the seat of a governor 
who bears the title of serki-n-Zarome, and who is 
said to have as many as seventy musketeers under 
his command ; so that, as he was an officer of much 
importance in this turbulent country, it did not seem 
advisable to pass him unnoticed, and we therefore 
determined to take up our quarters here, although 
it was still early in the morning. He has a large 
house or palace, but it is somewhat in decay. Having 
made him a small present, I was hospitably treated 
