81 
CHAP. XLL 
SHIT ATI. — THE EASTEKN, MORE FAVOURED, VALLEYS OF KANEM. 
With the rest of our people, and with the Saturday) 
remaining two camels carrying the smaller 0ctober llth - 
part of our luggage, we accompanied the following day 
the more active part of the horde, while the older 
men were left behind for the defence of the encamp- 
ment, with their families and property. 
The country through which our way led was entirely 
of the same character as that which I have already 
described, a sandy level adorned with trees of moderate 
size, almost all of the genus Mimosa, and in favourable 
seasons well adapted for the cultivation of Indian corn 
— now and then broken by deep hollows of larger or 
smaller extent, generally with a sufficient supply of 
water to produce fine plantations or corn-fields, and 
overgrown with more luxuriant vegetation. We 
crossed a fine vale of this description about eight 
miles from our starting-point, and chose our camping- 
ground on the higher level commanding the " Bfr el 
Ftaim." The hollow, however, which contains this 
well is rather of a peculiar kind ; for, unlike the other 
basins, which afford sufficient space for cultivation, 
it is extremely narrow, while the encompassing slopes, 
at least that on the north side, rise to a greater 
VOL. III. G 
