180 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXVI. 
was setting in, we again descended to the green shore, 
where the river seemed to be obstructed by islands. 
Parallel with the bank, a shallow grassy swamp 
stretched along, and from beyond the southern bank, 
a little higher up, a village was seen. On the 
largest of the islands, which was at the same time 
the nearest to our side, was the residence of Kara, the 
father of a young man named Sdla, one of the pupils 
of El Bakay. This was the reason why my com- 
panions, notwithstanding the darkness of the evening, 
and although the island was at present separated from 
the mainland by a deep channel, entertained the absurd 
idea of crossing over to the latter. It was only after 
much uncertainty, and a great deal of dispute, that 
we decided upon encamping on the narrow neck be- 
tween the swamp and the river. 
In this place we remained the four following days, 
my protector not returning until the third day, and 
my patience was again put to a severe trial. But, al- 
together, the stay here was not so uninteresting, as we 
received a great many visits from the inhabitants of 
this and the neighbouring districts. First, there came 
Kara, the governor of the island, a stately-looking 
old man, dressed in a fine white tobe, with a white shawl 
round his head. Having entered into conversation 
with me, he stated, without the subject being brought 
forward by myself, that about fifty years ago, a Chris- 
tian had come down the river in a large boat with a 
white tent, and the river being then full, had passed 
without any accident the rocky passage ahead of us. 
But he added that the Kel-ter^rart had attacked him 
