84 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XLI. 
The place for our encampment was chosen on the 
level commanding the rich basin on the eastern side, 
and descending into it by a steep slope of from 300 
to 400 feet. Here 1 laid myself down in the cool 
shade of a luxuriant serrakh not far from the slope, 
and surveyed the trains of the Fugabu, who in the 
course of the day arrived with their little movable 
household, having left their former residence near 
Bir el Ftaim. In the evening we paid a visit to the 
sheikh, and as usual were obliged to give him and 
his companions some account of European matters, 
though it would have been far more interesting for us 
to listen to their own stories, so full of incidents of a 
wild restless life. 
Monday The weather was cool, and a strong north 
October 13th. w i nc [ ma J e it rather chilly. Having been 
told that we were not to leave the next day, I 
purchased a ram, with a white tobe which I had 
bought for about forty rotl in Kukawa, receiving, 
besides the ram, one ska or zekka of Guinea corn 
to complete the bargain. I afterwards got a fine fat 
goat, which we slaughtered to-day, and found its meat 
pretty good. Halliif came while I was lying in the 
shade of my serrakh of the preceding day, which I 
had nicely cleaned, and sat down to a chat ; he as- 
sured me that he was able to bring us to Karka or 
Kargha, the swampy country in the south-east corner 
of the lake, which forms an archipelago of small 
islands, and would offer his services for that pur- 
pose, but that he was afraid of Sheikh Ghet's jealousy. 
