Chap. LXXYII. THE IBAWAtoEN. 
209 
breed. They were seated upon a very awkward 
kind of saddle, which was merely thrown over the 
horse's back without a belly-band, and quite low 
behind. Their dress was also poor, and of the same 
character as that of the inhabitants of Bamba and 
Ghergo. All these people belong to the tribe of the 
Ibawajiten, and were remarkable for more than ordi- 
nary ignorance. Many of them came to solicit medicine 
from me ; and one cannot wonder that, in such a lo- 
cality, a great deal of sickness prevails, for the whole 
river is almost entirely lost in a broad shallow valley 
of about three miles in width, which, in its present 
low condition, bordered by steep banks, was nothing 
but a labyrinth of small creeks, intercepting swampy 
meadow grounds, although, during the higher state of 
the inundation, it must be filled up by the river, and 
form one large stream. Seeing so few trees hereabout, 
I was astonished to hear all the people speak of 
the number of lions which infested this district ; they 
even begged us urgently to be upon our guard against 
them during the night. 
Having heard nothing of lions or wild Sunday, 
beasts during the night, we prepared early ^""^ 
for our departure, but were detained some time, as the 
Sheikh had again business to transact as a general 
pacificator ; these Ibawajiten having purchased two of 
the slaves whom Sadaktu had taken from the people 
of Bamba, and not feeling inclined to return them. 
At length we started, but found it extremely difficult 
to avoid a wide swampy creek which deeply indented 
VOL. V. p 
