360 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XLIX- 
not be my destiny to leave this country as yet. How- 
ever, I made up my mind, and prepared myself for 
whatever might happen. 
The country assumed a more genial aspect; and 
we reached a very extensive sheet of water, appa- 
rently of considerable depth, and adorned all around 
by fine spreading trees. Numbers of women were 
proceeding from the neighbouring village to fetch 
water. Having provided ourselves with a supply, we 
proceeded onwards, and halted in the shade of a fine 
"hajilij," in sight of the village. Numbers of cattle 
and asses were seen all around, and testified to the 
prosperity of the inhabitants. Kokoroche is an im- 
portant place in the economy of this country ; for it is 
this place, together with Biigoman, which furnishes 
the capital with the greatest supply of millet. 
Determined to put a bold face upon matters, I 
ordered my people to slaughter the sheep, and made 
myself as comfortable as possible, spreading my carpet, 
damaged as it was by the ants in Bakada, upon the 
ground, and assuming the appearance of being quite at 
my ease. At that time I was not aware that in this 
country none but the sultan and a few high dig- 
nitaries were allowed to sit on a carpet. While the 
meat was cooking on the fire, and holding out the 
promise of some unwonted luxury, I received a visit 
from the father-in-law of Grema e Abdii, my host in 
Mustafaji; and his appearance and hints confirmed 
my unfavourable anticipations. I related to him 
what had happened to me since I left him, — that the 
