Chap. LXXVII. INCIDENT IN AFRICAN WARFARE. 189 
started at a rather late hour, first keeping along the 
shore, but after having proceeded about 1400 yards, 
turning away and with a north-easterly direction 
entering the stony slope of the desert plateau, which 
here consisted of black sandstone in a state of decom- 
position. At this spot, where I was obliged to keep 
away from the bank, the great rocky ledge, to which 
Barror belongs, crosses the river. This rock not being 
illumined to-day by the sun, exhibited the same black 
character which is peculiar to the whole locality, and 
there is no doubt that it intercepts the navigation for 
larger boats during a great part of the year. 
The bare rocky slope was succeeded by sandy 
downs, which surrounded and enclosed small irregular 
vales, the bottom of which was formed of small black 
stones. A little further on we passed the locality 
called Tin-rassen, where Sadaktu had once vanquished 
a superior force led by A'khbi, who, notwithstanding 
the close relation which subsisted between them, had 
come to attack him. The women, hurrying forth from 
the encampment, had met their kinsfolk with bare 
breasts, which they held forth to them as having 
suckled their kindred, and implored them, for the sake 
of their near relationship, not to shed the blood of 
their own kinsmen. But this appeal for mercy being 
without effect, Sadaktu and his handful of men, in- 
spired with fear for the lives of their wives and chil- 
dren, and fighting with the courage of despair, had 
beaten the superior force of his arrogant relation, and 
killed nine free men of his tribe. 
