38 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIX. 
tents, and formed quite an animated encampment ; 
though of course quarrels were sure to break out soon. 
Feeling a little stronger, I mounted with my fellow- 
traveller in the afternoon, in order to make a small ex- 
cursion along the southern shore of the river, in a west- 
erly direction. The river, in general, runs from west to 
east ; but here, above the town, it makes considerable 
windings, and the shore is not so high as at the ford. 
The vegetation was beautiful; large tamarind trees 
forming a dense shade above, whilst the ground was 
covered with a great variety of plants and herbs just 
in Bower. On the low promontories of the shore 
were several small fishing villages, consisting of rather 
low and light huts made of mats, and surrounded by 
poles for drying the fish, a great many of which, 
principally of the mullet kind, were just suspended 
for that purpose. Having enjoyed the aspect of the 
quiet river-scenery for some time, we returned round 
the south side of the town. The ground here is hilly; 
but I think the hills, though at present covered with 
verdure, are nothing more than mounds of rubbish 
formed in the course of time round the town, which 
appears to have been formerly of greater extent. 
Friday Overweg and I, accompanied by Khalef- 
sept. i9th. Aiiah and a guide, made an excursion down 
the river, in order, if possible, to reach its mouth ; but 
the experiment proved that there is no path on the 
southern shore, the track following the northern bank : 
for on that side, not far from the mouth, lies a consider- 
able Kanembu place called Boso, though, in the present 
weak state of the Bornu kingdom, much exposed to 
