Chap. LXXIX. BORNU-GUNGU. 241 
was now desolate and deserted, and we continued our 
march in order to find out their new camping-ground. 
While ascending a spur of rising ground called 
Giindam, a fierce poisonous snake made a spring at 
my mounted servant, who was close behind me, but 
was killed by the men, who fortunately followed him 
at a short distance. It was about four feet and a 
half long ; and its body did not exceed an inch and a 
half in diameter. 
Having then kept along the slope for a little more 
than a mile, we again descended into the grassy plain, 
and reached a considerable creek, forming a series of 
rapids gushing over a low ledge of rocks, and en- 
compassing the island of Bornu-Gungu, where the 
G^-bero were at present encamped. The creek being 
too considerable to allow of our crossing it with all 
our eflfects, we encamped between it and the swamp, 
in a locality called Jiina-bdria ; and I here distributed 
amongst my companions the articles which I had 
promised them. 
The river, at this point, was frequented by several 
hippopotami, one of which, in its pursuit of good 
pasturage in the dusk of the evening, left the shore 
far behind it, and was pursued by my companions, 
who fired at it, without however hurting it or pre- 
venting its reaching the water. 
It was a beautiful morning ; and while the Monday, 
Wadawi crossed over to the island in order 
to fetch a supply of rice, I had sufficient leisure to 
look around me. The shore on this side presented 
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