226 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXVII. 
preserved building, evidently part of a mosque, at the 
south-eastern corner of the wall. I knew, from the 
report of the last expedition, that there were here 
remains of brick buildings ; but I did not expect to 
find the workmanship so good. The bricks are cer- 
tainly not so regularly-shaped as in Europe, but in 
other respects they seemed quite as good. It is in- 
deed a source of mournful reflection for the traveller 
to compare this solid mode of building practised in 
former times in this country, at least by its rulers, 
with the frail and ephemeral architecture of the pre- 
sent day ; but this impression of retrograding power 
and resources is caused also by the history of the 
country, which we shall soon lay before our readers. 
Even in the half-barbarous country of Bagirmi we 
may still find the remains of very extensive brick 
buildings. 
Overtaking the two young companions of my ad- 
venturous journey, I travelled on through an in- 
teresting but wild country, when at five o'clock in 
the afternoon a branch of the river once more ap- 
proached on our left, and soon cut across our path, 
leaving no trace of it. I felt sure that the track 
crossed the river here, but unfortunately allowed 
myself to be overruled by my servant (who was in 
truth an experienced lad) ; and accordingly we kept 
along the sandy border of the channel, following the 
traces of cattle till we became assured that there 
was no path in this place. Having searched for 
about two hours, we were at last compelled, by the 
