Chap. LXXVII. GREAT BREADTH OF THE RIVER. 211 
being scarcely less than eight miles. It is evident, 
from all that I saw here, that the navigable branch of 
the river runs on the side of A'ribinda, that is to say, 
the southern bank. 
As it had been decided that we should remain here 
during the night, we had already pitched our tents, and 
made ourselves comfortable, when our companions hav- 
ing been informed that in a neighbouring encampment 
there was a better prospect of a good supper, suddenly 
started off, although a thunderstorm gathered with 
threatening appearance over our heads ; but fortu- 
nately the encampment was not far distant, and the 
storm passed by without rain. This encampment be- 
longed to the Kel e' Siik, and was very considerable. 
The next morning several very decent-looking men 
were introduced to me, by my officious friend, A'hmed 
el Wadawi, when they assured me that the whole road 
to Say was safe. All these people, who possess a small 
degree of learning, and pride themselves in writing a 
few phrases from the Kuran, were extremely anxious 
to obtain some scraps of paper, and I was glad to be 
still enabled, besides small strips of black cotton cloth 
and needles, to give away some trifling presents of 
this kind. 
When we left the encampment, which was at about 
800 yards from the outer bank of the river, the 
country assumed quite a different aspect, and we had 
soon to descend a rough rocky passage of blackened 
sandstone, interspersed with granite blocks, in a great 
state of decomposition, and passing several encamp- 
p 2 
