248 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXIX. 
manding view over the surrounding country, but on 
this very account appeared less secure for a small 
party; and notwithstanding the elevation, the camp- 
ing-ground was greatly infested by mosquitoes, which 
almost drove our camels to distraction, and troubled 
our own night's rest not a little. 
But the view which I here enjoyed over the northern 
end of the island, round which the river divided into 
four branches, was highly interesting to me, as being 
one of the places along the river best known to the 
natives as scenes where that heroic voyager from the 
north had to struggle with nature as well as with 
hostile men. Our fires having given to those poor 
lads who had been left behind by their frightened 
masters an opportunity of discovering what kind of 
people we were, they took courage and came to us, 
when we learned that they were Kel e' Siik, who had 
paid a visit to Kiilman, and were now returning 
home. They also informed us, that the crocodiles had 
devoured one of the pack-oxen, upon their attempting 
to swim them across the river. 
Thursday, Breaking up our encampment at an early 
July 13th. Y^Q^Yj we descended, when the branch 
nearest to us again assumed an open character 
tolerably free from rocks ; but after a short time we 
were again forced by a ridge of sandstone about 
twenty feet high, which here formed the bank of 
the river, to ascend the higher ground. We thus 
obtained a clearer prospect over the whole val- 
ley, which at this spot attains a breadth of from 
