36 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIX 
tute of any other Cerealia, and millet and sorghum are 
grown only to a small extent. Cattle also are very 
scarce in Yo ; and very little milk is to be procured. 
Fish is the principal food of the inhabitants, of which 
there are several very palatable species in the river, 
especially one of considerable size, from eighteen to 
twenty inches long, with a very small mouth, resem- 
bling the mullet. 
I saw also a specimen of the electric fish, about 
ten inches long, and very fat, which was able to 
numb the arm of a man for several minutes. It was 
of an ashy colour on the back, while the belly was 
quite white ; the tail and the hind fins were red. 
Mr. Overweg made a slight sketch of one. 
During the night a heavy gale arose, and we had 
to fasten the ropes attached to the top of the pole ; 
but the storm passed by, and there was not a drop of 
rain ; indeed the rainy season, with regard to Bornu, 
had fairly gone by. 
Wednesday, Enjoyed in the morning the scenery and 
Sept. 17th. ftie fresh air of the river. Men were coming 
to bathe, women fetching water, and passengers and 
small parties were crossing the river, swimming 
across with their clothes upon their heads, or sitting 
on a yoke of calabashes with the water up to their 
middle. A kafla or " karabka" of Tebu people from 
Kanem had arrived the day before, and were encamped 
on the other side of the river, being eager to cross; 
but they were not allowed to do so till they had 
obtained permission ; for, during several months, 
this river or valley forms annually a sort of qua- 
