144 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXV. 
of Barkdnge, which was now almost dried up, and 
passing Tautilt, we pitched our tents a little beyond 
the former amazagh of the chief W6ghda, near a 
camp of the Welad-Moliik. The branch of the river 
at this spot was at present so shallow, that a flock of 
sheep was seen fording it towards the island ; water- 
fowl, also, and especially such birds as live upon fish, 
were in immense numbers. Crocodiles were seen in 
abundance, and caused us some anxiety for the horses, 
which were pasturing on the fine rank grass at the 
border of the river. 
The Tawarek having now left the banks of the 
river, the black natives seemed to be more at their 
ease, and several boats belonging to the Songhay 
crossed over to us from the island of Kora. I had 
seen the male portion of the Arab tribe of the Welad- 
Moliik on a former occasion, but I here, for the first 
time, saw their wives and daughters, who, attracted 
by curiosity, came in the evening to catch a glimpse 
of the Christian stranger, and were roving about 
my tent, but I did not observe a single attractive 
person among them, and, feeling rather sleepy, paid 
but little attention to them. 
Friday, While thc othcr members of our troop kept 
May 19th. j^qj.^ inland, I followed the bank of the river, 
which here, with its fine open sheet of water, pre- 
sents a highly interesting aspect, till I reached our 
old camping-ground at Izeberen, from whence I had 
some difiiculty in rejoining my friends, for the whole 
of this part of the river is full of backwaters and 
