290 
TKAYELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXX- 
river, and the path wound along the slope, which 
was intersected by several ravines full of rocks and 
trees, and afforded a beautiful view over the stream. 
Descending from this slope we kept along the bank, 
richly adorned with kenya or nelbi trees, the river 
spreading out in one unbroken sheet, interrupted only 
by a few isolated masses of rock. We here crossed a 
broad channel or dry watercourse starting forth from 
the hilly chain, and called G6rul-tilk61il, or Goru-kere. 
1 his watercourse my guide, probably erroneously, 
indicated as a branch of the river Sirba. It was suc- 
ceeded by several* others, one of which, distinguished 
by its breadth, was called Gorul-luggul. The bank 
of the river, at this spot, was cultivated with great 
care, and we passed several farming villages, one of 
which, called Lelloli, was the residence of a young 
Piillo woman who had attached herself to our party 
the preceding day. She was neatly dressed, and 
adorned with numerous strings of beads, and mounted 
on a donkey. 
Here cultivation, including a good deal of cotton, 
was carried on with great care, and all the fields 
were neatly fenced. But this well-cultivated ground 
was succeeded by a dense and luxuriant underwood, 
and, in the river, an island of the name of 'Oitilli, or 
'Otilli, stretched out to a great length. This probably 
is the ford originally called Ghiitil or Ghiidil. A 
little beyond, at the distance of about five miles, 
the soft slope gave way to a small rocky ridge, 
through which a little rivulet or brook had forced 
