260 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LXXX. 
two men, with three head of cattle, probably robbers 
from the other side of the river, who were returning 
to their haunts with their booty. But gradually the 
country assumed a more cheerful aspect, being clad 
with large trees, and exhibiting evident signs of former 
cultivation, while isolated masses of rock were pro- 
jecting here and there. The country altogether was 
so pleasant, that having met with a shallow pond of 
water, in a trough-like cavity of the grassy ground, 
we decided on encamping, for it was with great diffi- 
culty that I was able to drag on my companions more 
than fifteen miles a day at the utmost. 
However, we had scarcely pitched our tents, when 
we became aware that our camping-ground close be- 
yond the belt of trees with which it was girt, was skirted 
by a small rivulet, which although full of rocks was 
yet so deep, that it afforded sufficient room for croco- 
diles or alligators, and was not fordable here. It was 
a pity that we liad not a guide with us who might 
have given us some clear information respecting the 
features of the countr}^, for the conjecture of my 
companions*, who fancied that this rivulet took its rise 
* Among my companions, the Hartani Maleki, who had visited 
the countries of Mosi and Bambara, possessed some interesting 
information concerning unknown, or little known, districts of these 
regions ; but unfortunately he had something very uncouth in his 
manner, which prevented my learning from him all that would 
have been possible under other circumstances. This day I wrote 
down, from his information, the name of the pagan tribe of the 
Nenmer, who are settled between the Tombo and Bambara ; be- 
sides that of the Norma, who are chiefly settled in two places, one 
of which is called Pura. 
