KATAB TO YA'KOBA. 
573 
governor Ibrahima. Selman (properly 'Othman), the 
name given by this informant to the governor, is, I 
think, the name of his brother, who during his long 
absence has the government of the town. The town 
is large, and has twelve gates ; there is no running 
water near the toion, and the inhabitants supply them- 
selves from rafona, or hollows. All the country is 
under cultivation, and the neighbourhood is rich in 
hamlets. The road keeps along the plain, all laid 
out in fields, shaded with trees. 
The character of this town, which I have thus laid down 
from information, has, in opposition to the prevalent opinion 
that Yakoba is situated on a river, been entirely confirmed by 
Mr. Vogel's very important journey. Coming from the east, 
he found Yakoba situated on a stony elevated level, without 
any running stream, but well supplied with water, which col- 
lects round the walls of the town. He has found its position 
to be 10° 47' 30" K lat., and 9° 28' 0" E. of Gr. In con- 
sequence of the long absence of the governor Ibrahima (who, 
having sworn not to return to his capital until he shall have 
subdued a warlike pagan tribe, has been living now seven 
years in his " sansanne," or encampment, about 65 miles 
N.N.W. from the capital), Mr. Vogel found Yakoba rather 
thinly inhabited. He has not yet forwarded an account of 
the elevation of this place; but I believe that it will not be 
much less than two thousand feet.* 
Route from Katab to Yakoba. 
1st day. About aser reach Alhajji, a considerable village 
belonging to the province of Zegzeg, and situated at 
the west foot of a mountain. The whole road leads 
through forest. 
* From Mr. Vogel's last letters it appears that the elevation 
is 2,500 feet. 
