Chap. LXXVII. THE TIN-GER-E'GEDESH. 
201 
geous to us, as the high level presented here a most 
dreary aspect, being almost totally destitute of trees 
or shrubs. The border of the river, however, bore 
a very different character, and the swampy low- 
land extended to a great distance, intersected by a 
dead water which at present had no connection with 
the river. The profusion of herbage which grew in 
this locality enabled me to buy here a good supply of 
butter, although the country in general appeared to 
be very bleak. A large island, also, is formed in the 
river, which is inhabited by Songhay, and called E'ha. 
The previous afternoon, we had observed ahead of 
us, to the east, a mountain chain called A^segharbu, 
and we now saw it more distinctly, stretching from 
east to west 15° south. 
We had scarcely pitched our tents, when we were 
visited by a great number of Tawdrek of the tribe of 
the Tin-ger-egedesh, who were encamped at a short 
distance with their chiefs Aradre and Sadaktu. They 
were distinguished by their noble countenance and 
superior style of dress, and in both respects resembled 
the Tarabandsa, whose enemies they are. Most of 
them wore black tobes, the black alternately inter- 
changing with a white band ; and I counted not 
less than fifty of them, all decent-looking men. 
After a while I became very good friends with 
them, although the commencement of our inter- 
course was rather awkward. They had had some 
dealings with Mungo Park, whose policy it was to 
fire at any one who approached him in a threaten- 
