Chap. LXIV. 
ISLAND OF KO'RA. 
387 
account of its pleasant acid taste, afforded us a very 
refreshing treat. 
Having met with a short delay, in consequence of a 
thunderstorm which brought us but little rain, we 
observed the island of K6ra, which lies at the mouth 
of this channel, and the main river ahead of us, the 
water increasing in breadth, while one arm branches 
off round the south-western part of the island, present- 
ing here the appearance of an inland sea. But we had 
scarcely caught a glimpse of the great river itself, 
when a second and heavier thunderstorm, which had 
long been gathering, threatened to break forth, 
and obliged us to seek shelter in the grassy eastern 
shore of the main. We had scarcely fastened the boat, 
when the rain came down in torrents, and lasted with 
great violence for nearly two hours, so that my berth 
was entirely swamped, and I remained in a most un- 
comfortable state during the whole of the night. 
The weather having cleared up, we set Sunday, 
out at an early hour, following a north- Se P tember 4th - 
easterly direction through an open water not ob- 
structed by reeds, but soon halted again for prayer 
near the green bushy shore ; while from the opposite 
side of the island of K6ra, the lowing of cattle, cackling 
of fowls, and the voices of men were distinctly to be 
heard, the island being still tolerably well inhabited 
and the people being said to possess even a good 
number of horses. It was of considerable interest to 
me here to fall into the course pursued by that very 
meritorious French traveller, Rene Caillie, on his toil- 
c c 2 
