28 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXXIX. 
through the level country, which in the simplicity of 
my mind I thought beautiful, and which I greatly 
enjoyed. After about an hour's march, we passed a 
large pond or pool, situated to the left of the road, and 
formed by the rains, bordered by a set of trees of the 
acacia tribe, and enlivened by a large herd of fine 
cattle. Towards evening, after some trouble, we found 
a path leading through the fields into the interior of a 
little village, called Alairiik, almost hidden behind the 
high stalks of millet. Our reception was rather cold? 
such as a stranger may expect to find in all the villages 
situated near a capital, the inhabitants of which are 
continually pestered by calls upon their hospitality. 
But, carrying my little residence and all the comforts 
I wanted with me, I cared little about their treatment ; 
and my tent was soon pitched in a separate courtyard. 
But all my enjoyment was destroyed by a quarrel 
which arose between my horseman and the mas- 
ter of the dwelling, who would not allow him to put 
his horse where he wished: my horseman had even the 
insolence to beat the man who had received us into his 
house. This is the way in which affairs are managed 
in these countries. 
Sunday After a refreshing night I started a 
September i4th. little later than on the day previous, 
winding along a narrow path through the fields, 
where, besides sorghum, karas (Hibiscus esculentus) 
is cultivated, which is an essential thing for prepar- 
ing the soups of the natives, in districts where the 
leaves of the kiika, or monkey-bread-tree, and of the 
