Chap. XLI. KEGULARLY FORMED VALLEY. 
95 
village ; but in general the country continued to bear 
the most evident traces of desolation. At length its 
drear}? aspect became relieved, and we descended into 
a regularly formed valley called Gesgi, about 500 yards 
broad, and inclosed between high cliffs of sandstone. 
This was the first regular valley-formation which we 
saw on our journey to Kanem ; for as yet all depres- 
sions in the ground presented rather the character of 
hollows without a regular shelving or sloping in any 
direction. This valley, on the contrary, extending 
from north to south, was apparently the occasional 
channel of a small torrent, and, on account of the 
moisture extending over the whole of it, was adorned 
with several groups of palm-trees, and in several places 
with corn-fields. 
But while this valley presented great attraction to 
the European traveller, it was not less attractive to 
the covetous Arab freebooter ; and all order ceasing 
in our little troop, the young inexperienced lads 
who composed our cortege dispersed in all directions. 
Some small flocks of sheep had been observed in the 
valley ; and they were now pursued by part of our 
companions, while others ransacked the huts of a 
small hamlet situated on the western brow of the 
vale. It was very fortunate for us that no natives 
were lurking hereabouts, as they might have done 
immense mischief to our troop, scattered as it was 
about the country. Overweg and I were almost left 
alone, when, after having looked about in vain for 
traces of the footsteps of the horsemen who had gone 
