208 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXVII. 
feet above the deepest bottom, and was well lined 
with bush. It being then noon, the sun was very 
powerful, and when we reached the drier ground, 
the heat became very troublesome. My companions 
therefore were well pleased when we reached a vil- 
lage of the Songhay, or rather of that division of 
them which is called Ibawajiten or Ibaujiten, hoping 
that they should be able to get some refreshment ; but 
the Songhay, now that they have lost almost all their 
national independence, and are constantly exposed 
to all sorts of contributions, are inhospitable in the 
extreme ; and they pointed out to us the encampment 
of their chief at a considerable distance along the 
river, where we were to look for quarters. The whole 
district is called Abiiba. 
Following the example of my companions, who 
were lightly laden and not very cautious, I was in- 
duced once more to enter the swampy grounds ; and, 
being obliged to cross two boggy channels, we regained 
with difficulty the sandy downs, which were enli- 
vened with three separate groups of diim-palms, which 
adorned a cemetery. Here we encamped in a small 
field, enclosed with fernan, but at present empty, the 
locality being called Fagona. 
The situation on these high downs was so con- 
spicuous, that my tent, being visible at a great dis- 
tance over the valley, attracted a great proportion of 
the neighbouring population, among whom there 
were also some Rumd. A few of them were even 
mounted on horses, although of a very awkward 
