Chap. LXXIII. WO'gHDUGU. 
109 
pay me their compliments, and sat for a long time 
near me, in order to observe my habits. 
At length we were again on our march, following 
the windings of the river, which at times spread out 
to a fine sheet of water, but at others became hid 
behind sandy downs. On our left we had a well- 
wooded country, now and then changing into a low 
swampy ground, and enlivened by guinea-fowls. In 
this place we met a fine tall Tarki, mounted upon one 
of the highest " mehara " I had ever seen. It was 
W6ghdugu, the most valiant of all the southern 
Tawarek, Awelimmiden, Igwddaren, and Tademekket 
taken together, and a sincere and faithful friend of 
the Sheikh El Bakay. He was a fine, tall, broad- 
shouldered man, of six feet four or five inches, and 
evidently possessing immense muscular strength, al- 
though he was by no means fat at the time, and 
even pretended not to be in the enjoyment of good 
health. 
Numerous deeds of valour are related of this 
man, which remind one of the best age of European 
or Arab chivalry. He is said, at the time when 
the Tawdrek conquered the town of Giindam from 
the Fiilbe, to have jumped from his horse upon the 
wall of that place, and catching upon his shield the 
spears of all the enemy who were posted there, to 
have opened a way for his comrades. A few days 
before, he had been surprised, when quite alone, by a 
party of from ten to twelve of his private enemies, 
the followers of E' Teni, but he succeeded in defend- 
