Chap. XXYII. 
ala'une. 
221 
and surrounded by a clay wall in a state of great 
decay. Accosting the people, who were just drawing 
water from the well inside the wall, and asking them 
about the state of the road, we were told that, as far 
as Kashfmma, it was safe ; but beyond that they pro- 
nounced it decidedly dangerous. We therefore con- 
tinued our march with more confidence, particularly 
as we met some market-people coming from Ka- 
shimma. 
Alaune is the same place which, by the members 
of the last expedition, has been called Kabshari, 
from the name of the then governor of the town — 
Bu-Bakr-Kabshari — after whom the place is even at 
present often called a billa Kabshari^ " (the town of 
Kabshari). Keeping on through a country partly 
cultivated, partly covered with thick underwood, which 
was full of locusts, we were greatly delighted by 
obtaining at about eight o'clock a view of a fine 
sheet of water, in the dale before us, surrounded 
with a luxuriant vegetation, and descended cheerfully 
towards its shore, where two magnificent tamarind- 
trees spread their canopy-like foliage over a carpet of 
succulent turf. While enjoying this beautiful picture, 
I was about to allow my poor horse a little feed of the 
grass, when a woman, who had come to fetch water, 
told me that it was very unwholesome. 
This is the great komadugu of Bornu, the real name 
of which is " komadugu Waube," while, just from the 
same mistake which has caused Aldune to be called 
Kabshari, and the river of Zyrmi, Zyrmi, it has been 
