480 
TRAVELS IN AFKICA. Chap. XXXY. 
Kibawo or Ribago*, stretching out on our left on a 
little rising ground. The district is not only rich in 
corn and pasturage, but also in fish, which are most 
plentiful in a large inlet or backwater, "illagul," as it 
is called by the Fiilbe, branching off from the river 
along the north-east foot of the Bagele, and closely 
approaching the village. In this shallow water the 
fish are easily caught. 
Numbers of inquisitive people of every age and sex, 
gathered round us from the neighbouring hamlets ; 
but while hovering round me and the camels with 
great delight, they behaved very decently and quietly. 
They followed us till we took up our quarters a little 
before ten o'clock, with a friend of Billama's, in a 
large group of huts lying close to the path, and shaded 
by most luxuriant trees. Although there were several 
clean huts, I preferred the cool and ventilated entrance 
hall of the same description as I have mentioned above, 
and remained here even during the night, although a 
most terrible storm, which broke out at six o'clock in 
the evening, and lasted full four hours, flooded the 
whole ground, and rendered my resting-place rather 
too cool. I would advise other travellers not to follow 
my example during the rainy season, but rather to 
make themselves comfortable in the warm interior of 
a well protected hut. 
In our last march through these rich low grounds, 
which are every year flooded by the river, I had not 
* Ribago, sometimes contracted to the form Ribawo, means 
" a governor's country-seat." 
