Chap. XLIII. SHALLOW WATERCOURSES. 
157 
to be called backwaters ; and, secondly, those which 
are quite independent, and form a small water- 
system by themselves. To the latter kind seems to 
belong this sw^ampy sheet of water, or "ngaljam," 
of Diggera, although I heard some Shuwa affirm that 
it extended to the Ts&d. 
I first turned my steps eastward, where the en- 
campment extended to the very foot of the beautiful 
trees which, forming a rich border of the finest em- 
broidery from the hand of nature, girt the water. 
Most of them were either fig (sycamore) or tama- 
rind-trees. The aspect of the scenery was most 
interesting, and under almost every tamarind-tree 
a group of people was encamped. 
The cavity where this sheet of water had col- 
lected formed a very slight depression in the meadow- 
ground, it being almost flat ; the water, to all ap- 
pearance, had already decreased considerably, and 
only in a few places presented an open sheet, being in 
general closely overgrown with rank grass and tall 
reeds. I followed it to a considerable distance towards 
the N.N.W., till I was obliged by the thick covert to 
retrace my steps, and then turned westward. The 
far larger extension of the water during the rainy 
season was sufficiently indicated by the luxuriant 
growth of trees. I crossed it at a spot where it was 
not so extensive, and found the bottom of it ex- 
tremely muddy, which made the passage rather diffi- 
cult, though the water was only two and a half feet 
