192 
TRAVELS m AFRICA. Chap. LXXVIl. 
besides a miserable bandage of native cotton tied 
round the head, over which some of them wore an- 
other bandage of red cloth. All of them had slung 
over their shoulders the open leathern belt with 
which they gird their waists in case of emergency. 
The intelligence of these people seemed very limited, 
and it was impossible for me to enter into any 
serious conversation with them. I was, however, 
fortunately enabled to buy some rice with cotton 
strips. 
Saturday, if I was dcstiucd to spcnd my whole life 
June 10th. ^j^-g p^g^Qj^^ ^his day only moved on 
three miles, keeping close along the shore of the 
river, which here formed several islands, and gra- 
dually took a more southerly direction. The whole 
of this part of the river, the valley of which, in- 
cluding the islands, measures certainly more than three 
miles in breadth, is called Burrum, and was formerly 
one of the chief seats of the Songhay. There is a 
remarkable tradition that a Pharaoh once came from 
Egypt to this spot, and again returned. This story 
would at least imply an early intercourse with Egypt, 
and should not, I think, be viewed incredulously ; for, 
if it had no foundation whatever, it would certainly 
attach to the capital of the nation itself, and not to a 
place which possesses no great historical importance. 
But on the other hand it is highly interesting to ob- 
serve, that this is the spot where the great river, 
which here makes a bend from a west easterly into a 
southerly direction, is nearest to Egypt. Let it be fur- 
