392 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LXV. 
closed some new features for which I had not been 
prepared ; for, while the water on which Korome was 
situated formed only by far the smaller branch, the 
chief river, about three quarters of a mile in breadth, 
took its direction to the south-east, separated from 
the former by a group of islands called Day, at the 
headland of which lies the islet of Tarasham.* 
It was with an anxious feeling that I bade fare- 
well to that noble river as it turned away from us, 
not being sure whether it would fall to my lot to 
explore its further course, although it was my firm 
intention at the time to accomplish this task if pos- 
sible. Thus we entered the branch of Korome, keep- 
ing along the grass which here grows in the river to 
a great extent, till we reached the village, consisting 
of nothing but temporary huts of reed, which, in the 
course of a few weeks, with the rising of the waters, 
were to be removed further inland. Notwithstanding 
its frail character, this poor little village was in- 
teresting on account of its wharfs, where a number 
of boats were repairing. The master of our own 
craft residing here (for all the boatmen on this 
river are serfs, or nearly in that condition), we 
were obliged to halt almost an hour and a half ; but 
in order not to excite the curiosity of the people, 
I thought it prudent to remain in my boat. But 
even there I was incommoded with a great number 
of visitors, who were very anxious to know exactly 
* " Tarasham " means a house or dwelling. 
