248 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XLV. 
by the advice of A'dishen, who wanted to keep the 
undisciplined host from his own fertile territory, had 
chosen the encampment. Thither I directed my 
steps, while the main body of the cavalry were scat- 
tered about the corn-fields, in order to gather the 
half-ripe ears of grain for themselves and their half- 
starved horses ; and he was lucky who arrived first, 
those who came afterwards either finding nothing at 
all, or only green, unwholesome corn. 
The whole district where the encampment was 
chosen was bare and desolate in the extreme, es- 
pecially on the eastern side, where it was only 
bordered by stunted mimosas a considerable distance 
off. But the village itself, and particularly the dwell- 
ing of the chief Kabishme, was calculated to create 
a great deal of interest, as well on account of the 
finished and careful execution of the buildings as 
owing to a certain degree of comfort and homeliness 
which was evident in the whole arrangement; and 
in this respect it was very fortunate that, imme- 
diately after our arrival, before the train came up, I 
directed my attention towards these buildings, for 
afterwards the deserted palace of the Miisgu chief 
became a harmi, or prohibited spot, the vizier finding 
its architectural arrangements verj^ useful and con- 
venient for his own domestic purposes. 
The palace must have afforded a very different 
spectacle in former times, when it was inhabited, it 
being at present in such a state of ruin that several 
features in its arrangement could not be distinctly 
