470 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LII. 
lodged and hospitably treated, and were busy till late 
at night drying our wet clothes. 
Friday We had now only one long day's march 
August 20th, to Xukawa; and, reaching the town of 
Ng6rnu after six hours' ride, I had great trouble in 
dragging on my horsemen, who being quite ex- 
hausted, wanted to make themselves comfortable with 
their friends, for the B6rnu men of the present day 
are not accustomed to much fatigue. Indeed both 
my companions were so utterly prostrated, in mind 
and body, that, strange to say, they lost their road 
close to the capital, although certainly the high 
corn-fields gave the country a totally different ap- 
pearance. The great pond of Kaine was now larger 
than I had ever seen it, and flooded the path to a 
great extent. 
Having sent on a man in advance, in order to 
announce my arrival to the vizier and Mr. Overweg, 
I made a short halt near one of the many pools of 
stagnant water ; and we were just about to remount 
when my friend came galloping up. We were both 
extremely glad to see each other again, having been 
separated from one another longer than on any 
former occasion ; and they had received in Kiikawa 
very alarming news about my reception in Bagirmi. 
Mr. Overweg had made, meanwhile, a very interest- 
ing trip into the south-western mountainous districts 
of Bornu ; he had returned from thence about two 
months previously ; and I was surprised to find that, 
notwithstanding the long repose which he had en- 
joyed, he looked more weak and exhausted than I 
