196 
TKAVELS m AFKICA. Chap. LXXVII. 
dra of tari, equal to forty shells. Butter fetched 
twenty dra per uefFeka. 
During our two days' stay in this place, I received 
some valuable information from some Arabs of the 
tribe of the Weldd Moliik, who were settled in A'ri- 
bmda, that is to say, on the southern bank of the 
river, and kept up a small trade with Libtako, which 
is distant from here about ten days' march. The 
river being here so broad, it did not at all surprise me 
to hear from these people that in average years, 
during the lowest state of the river, it is fordable in 
several places. 
Far more interesting than the visit of these mixed 
Berbers was that of a man called Mohammed, who, 
with eight companions was on his way from G6g6, 
his native place, to Bamba by water, in a middle- 
sized boat ; thus proving that the water communica- 
tion between those places was still kept up, notwith- 
standing the total political ruin of the country, and 
that, too, at the present season of the year, when 
the water was at its very lowest. He was a wealthy 
man, belonging to the mulatto stock of the Eumd, 
and spoke only Songhay. He also brought me the 
latest news from the districts farther eastward, and I 
was glad to hear that, owing to the rebel army of 
Zaberma having been beaten by the governor of 
Tdmkala, the road by Say was open. 
Tuesday, Haviug had a thunder-storm during the 
June 13th. i^^^Qj, paj.^ Qf ii^Q night, with a heavy squall 
of wind, but without rain, we started at a rather late 
