Chap. LXXIV. THE PARTING FROM KUNGU. 
129 
highly on account of its fine trees and rich pasture- 
grounds ; but he spoke enthusiastically of the Edfar-n- 
aman, or, as the Arabs call it, the Rds el ma, with the 
rich grassy backwaters and creeks which surround it, 
especially the valley called Tisormaten, the reminis- 
cences of which filled his boyish mind with the 
highest delight. 
Thus I took leave of this yourjg Tarki lad, after 
having given him such little presents as I could spare. 
Swinging himself upon his horse by means of his iron 
spear, he rode off with a martial air, probably never to 
hear of me again. I took the opposite direction, along 
the shore of the creek Amalelle, accompanied by a 
guide whom A'hmed el Waddwi had brought from Er- 
nesse, and followed by Mohammed ben Khottar the 
SheikVs nephew, Sidi-Mohammed the Sheikh's son, 
and almost the whole of his followers. However, 
the company of all these people did not inspire me 
with so much confidence that my friend and protector 
would not tarry long behind, as the fact of the pre- 
sence of his favourite female cook Diko who accom- 
panied us, and whose services my friend could 
scarcely dispense with ; and I thus agreed in the 
opinion of his confidential pupil Mohammed el A'min, 
who, knowing well the character of his teacher, dis- 
puted with energy with those amongst my companions 
who thought that the Sheikh would send us word to 
join him in the town. 
I therefore cheerfully enjoyed once more the very 
peculiar character of this river district, with its many 
VOL. V. K 
