160 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Ciiaf. LXXV. 
Thus we passed a remarkable locality on a rising 
sandy bank behind a considerable creek, which, 
by its name Tamizgida, evidently indicates the site 
of a former dwelling-place, and is probably iden- 
tical with the Tirka (or rather Tirekka) of Arab geo- 
graphers if that identity does not apply to Ghergo. 
Having passed this place, we followed the shallow 
water, which gradually widened, being intersected 
by fences and dykes for the purpose of cultivating 
rice and catching fish. Larger trees became gra- 
dually more scanty, indicating our approach to a 
still existing dwelling-place, as is generally the case 
in Negroland, the trees being consumed for firewood ; 
but just as we came in sight of this place, which is 
Ghergo (pronounced Rergo), in order to avoid the 
heat during the midday hours, on an almost unpro- 
tected shore, we thought it better to halt in the 
shade of the last trees. I myself found shelter under 
the densely woven foliage of a fine group formed 
by the union of a geza with an aghelal, where 
I had nothing better to do than to treat all my 
people with tea and coffee, in order to restore their 
wasted spirits and strength, as they had sufi'ered 
greatly from their last night's diet. 
* See the highly interesting account of this place, the great 
commercial entrepot between Ghana in the west and Tademekka 
in the east, in El Bekri, "Description de I'Afrique," p. 180. The 
express mention of the ants which he here makes is very impor- 
tant, as, in coming from Timbuktu, the first ants were observed 
by us near Hendi-kiri. 
