156 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LXXY. 
more than ever entangled among the numerous back- 
waters which make the passage along the river so 
difficult, although they alFord the richest pasturage 
to the cattle. The fault was that of our guide, who 
directed our course too far south from east, till, 
on becoming aware of our error, we had to cross 
two very considerable grassy creeks, the first having 
three and a half feet of water, and the last being still 
deeper. The tall rank grass of the byrgu entangled 
the feet of the horses, and caused them to fall, to the 
great discomfiture of their riders. 
Having at length succeeded in crossing this double 
creek, we had still to traverse another grassy inlet, 
joining it from the north side, after which, all these 
swampy low lands uniting together, formed a very 
extensive faddama, at the broadest part about two or 
three miles wide, the whole surface of the water 
being covered with water-lilies {Nymplicea Lotus). 
Beyond this extensive backwater, on a grassy island 
of the river, lies the hamlet Tabalit, and at a short 
distance from it another ddabay, of the name of 
A'baten. Here the extensive backwaters after a little 
while cease, and allow the river itself to approach the 
sandy downs, which in this spot rise to a considerable 
height. They thus afforded myself and the Sheikh's 
nephew a fine view over the river, which here forms 
a "large island," designated by this very name, 
" autel-makkoren," or "imakk6ren;" it often forms 
the camping-ground for Tawarek tribes. The sandy 
downs, however, soon gave way to swampy back- 
