Chap. XXVII. 
NOMADIC HERDSMEN". 
229 
Confiding, therefore, in my good luck, I was again 
in the saddle by four o'clock, the country being 
now clearer of wood, though generally in a wild, 
neglected state. After a little more than two miles' 
march, near a patch of cultivated ground I saw a 
group of three monkeys of the same species, ap- 
parently, as those in A'sben. In general, monkeys 
seem not to be frequent in the inhabited parts of 
Negroland. The day with its brightness was already 
fading away, and darkness setting in filled us with 
anxiety as to where we might pass the night with 
some security, when, to our great delight, we ob- 
served in the distance to our right the light of some 
fires glittering through a thicket of dum-palms, tama- 
rinds, and other large trees. We endeavoured, there- 
fore, to open a path to them, cheered in our effort by 
the pleasing sound of dance and song which came 
from the same direction. 
It proved to be a wandering company of happy 
herdsmen, who bade us a hearty welcome after they 
had recognized us as harmless travellers ; and, well 
satisfied at seeing our resolution thus rewarded, we 
pitched our tent in the midst of their huts and 
numerous herds. Entering then into conversation 
with them, I learnt to my astonishment that they 
were neither Kaniiri nor Hausa people, but Fellata, 
or Fiilbe of the tribe of the O'bore*, who, notwith- 
* The name looks rather strange to me, a tribe of the Fulbe of 
this name not having otherwise come to my knowledge ; and I am 
almost inclined to think that these poor herdsmen, separated from 
q 3 
