Chap. XXVII. FOKD OF THE KOMA'dUGU. 
231 
by some of the cattle, which lay close to our tent, 
starting up occasionally and running furiously about. 
There was a lion very near ; but the blaze of the fires 
kept him off. Our friends did not possess a single 
dog — but this was another mark of nationality ; they 
rely entirely upon their own watchfulness. 
In consequence of our disturbed night's rest, we 
set out at rather a late hour, accompanied by two of 
our friends, in order to show us the ford of the komd- 
dugu, which, they told us, ran close to their encamp- 
ment. And it was well that we had their assistance ; 
for though the water was but three feet deep at the 
spot where they led us through, it was much deeper 
on both sides, and we might easily have met with an 
accident. It was here about five and thirty yards 
across, and was quite stagnant. It is, doubtless, the 
same water which I had crossed at Kashimma, where, 
with its several branches, it occupied an immense 
valley, and again just before I came to the Eastern 
Ngurutuwa. 
Our hospitable friends did not leave us till they 
had assisted us through the extremely dense covert 
which borders the eastern bank of the river. They 
then returned, recommending us very strongly to be 
on our guard, as we should have the komadugu 
always on our left, where some robbers were gene- 
rally lurking. We had not proceeded far when we 
met an archer on horseback following the traces of a 
band of Tawarek, who, as he told us, had last night 
made an attack upon another encampment or village 
Q 4 
