408 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIII, 
table butter. At least large heaps of the chestnut-like 
kernels of the Bassia ParJcii were lying about in the 
courtyards. They have also a great deal of excellent 
honey. 
Tuesday Leaving our quarters early, and emerging 
June ioth. from the rocky recess by the same opening 
through which we had entered it the preceding even- 
ing, we halted a short time in order that the whole 
caravan might form closely together, for we had now 
the most dangerous day's march before us, where 
stragglers are generally slain or carried into slavery 
by lurking enemies. Our whole troop was not very 
numerous, consisting of five horsemen and about 
twenty-five armed men on foot, with three camels, 
six sumpter oxen, and three asses, our strength con- 
sisting entirely in my four muskets and four pairs 
of pistols. 
It was a very fine morning, and after the last night's 
storm the whole country teemed with freshness and 
life. Moreover, it was of a varied nature, the ground 
consisting^ at times, of bare granite, with large blocks 
of quartz, at others covered with black vegetable soil, 
with ironstone here and there, and torn by numerous 
small periodical watercourses descending from the 
rocky chain on our right, and carrying the moisture 
of the whole region towards the river, which still 
flowed on the left of our track ; while granite-blocks 
and small ridges projected everywhere, the whole 
clothed with forest more or less dense, and with a great 
variety of foliage. Having kept on through this kind 
