Chap. LXXX. THE RIVER SI'RBA. 
283 
feature when, close behind the village of Garbeguru, 
we reached the river Sirba, with which, in its upper 
course, we had first made acquaintance at Bose-bdngo, 
but which here had a very different character, rushing 
along, in a knee4ike bend, from south-west to north- 
east, over a bed of rocks from sixty to seventy yards 
across, and leaving the impression that at the time 
when it is full of water it is scarcely passable. But 
at present we found no difficulty in crossing it, the 
water being only a foot deep. Nevertheless, the Sirba 
is of great importance in these regions, and we can 
well understand how Bello could call it the 'All Baba 
of the small rivers. Ascending then the opposite bank 
of this stream, we obtained a view of a hilly chain 
ahead of us, but the country which we had to traverse 
was at present desolate, although in former times the 
cornfields of the important island- town Koirwa spread 
out here. However, we had a long delay, caused by 
another of our camels being knocked up, so that we 
were obliged to leave it behind ; an unfortunate cir- 
cumstance, which afforded a fresh proof of the useless- 
ness of the camels of the desert tract of A'zawdd for 
a journey along the banks of the river. 
The country improved greatly after we had crossed 
a small hilly chain which approached on the right, 
but it did not exhibit any traces of cultivation, the 
inhabitants having taken refuge on the other side of 
the river. We also passed here a pretty little rivulet 
of middle size, girt by fine trees, and encamped close 
beyond the ruins of a village called Namdro, opposite 
