CuAP. LXXVI. 
taho'nt-n-e'ggish. 
171 
usual slow mode of progress; and after a short 
march of scarcely three miles over a ground strewn 
with pebbles and small stones, and clad only with 
scanty vegetation, we encamped close to the steep 
bank which descended towards the river opposite 
the island of Zamgoy, for here we were told was the 
residence of Sadaktu, the chief who had levied such 
heavy contributions upon the inhabitants of Bamba. 
As the country itself did not present any features 
of interest, it was some recompense to me for the 
delay we met with in this place, that the character of 
the river was remarkable ; and in order to enjoy it as 
much as possible, I prepared myself a resting place on 
the slope of the bank, which was thickly overgrown 
with small trees. 
It is here that the beginning of the rocky district 
through which the river takes its course is first per- 
ceptible. The western end of a small island is en- 
tirely surounded by large granite blocks, which have 
given to the island the remarkable name of Tahont- 
n-eggish, clearly indicating that even the natives 
themselves regard this place, for him who comes 
down the river, as the entrance-rock, " or the be- 
ginning of the rocky district. 
The island of Zamgoy lies nearer to the southern 
shore, and seems to be of considerable extent, densely 
clothed with trees, and containing a small hamlet, or 
adabay. Besides the view of the river, and a walk 
now and then over the desert ground in our neigh- 
bourhood, where I observed the ruins of some stone 
