178 
TRAVELS IN AFEICA. Chap. LXXVI. 
there was one whose name seemed to me rather re- 
markable, as he called himself El Fsfahdni ; but what 
he or his ancestors had to do with the famous town 
of I'sfahan, I could not make out. Sidi Flemin treated 
us well with a number of large dishes of rice, but the 
food being prepared without any salt, I was not able 
to enjoy it, and was the more grateful at being fur- 
nished in the evening with a rich supply of milk. 
Saturday, While my protector directed his steps towards 
June 3rd. ^-^Q dcscrt, T, wlth the greater part of his fol- 
lowers, continued my journey along the banks of the 
river, which had now almost become a second home to 
me, and with its many backwaters, islands, and cliffs, 
afforded me a never failing source of interest. About 
half a mile beyond our encampment we passed the site 
of a former settlement or dwelling place, after which the 
sandy downs receded a little from the bank, affording 
comfortable ground for a good number of Tawarek 
encampments. Having then left on our right an ex- 
tensive swampy lowland, which, during the highest 
state of the river, becomes inundated, we reached the 
beginning of the rocky district, through which the 
river has to pass. After a very short march, we 
encamped in a place called Himberimme, on account 
of the indisposition of my friend Mohammed ben 
Khottar. 
The slope where we halted was very handsomely 
adorned with fine shady taborak, and the river was 
here free from rocks, being divided into two branches 
by a low sand bank, while a mile higher up a mighty 
