134 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXIV. 
to return to Hdusa, which was originally his home. 
But there was a great difference of opinion as to 
Avhether he was at liberty to go, although he was 
a liberated slave, and I was given to understand 
that his company might involve me in disputes with 
his former masters; for, in general, even liberated 
slaves are supposed to observe some sort of duty to 
their former employers. Nevertheless, I had allowed 
him to stay, but was now obliged to send him back 
to Timbuktu, as almost the whole of his foot had been 
carried away by the monster, so that he was entirely 
unfit for the journey, and required immediate relief. 
The view of the river was the more interesting, as 
a strong north-east wind, or, as the Tawdrek say, 
" erife," rufiled its surface so considerably, that it 
crested the waves with white foam, and presented a 
very animated appearance, the magnificent sheet of 
water, the green island and shore, and the high ridge 
of the wide sandy downs, forming a most pleasing 
contrast. 
There was, also, no lack of intercourse. Sometimes 
it was some fishermen of the Songhay who solicited 
my hospitality in the evening ; at others, it was a 
troop of Tawdrek horsemen, who came to see the 
Christian stranger of whom they had heard so much. 
The most remarkable among them were the horsemen 
of the Kel-tab6rit, and the Kel-tdmulait *, with whom I 
* Two of the Kel-taborit gave me the following list of places 
from hence along the river as far as A'nsongo, and, as it contains a 
few names with which I did not become acquainted in the right 
