346 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXXII. 
up. But, after a march of about ten miles, we had 
a larger valley full of water on our right ; and three 
miles further on, had to cross it at a spot where the 
sheet of water was at present narrowed to about 100 
yards in width and 3 feet in depth, and notwith- 
standing a considerable current afforded an easier 
passage than the other part of the rainy season bed, 
which at present exhibited swampy ground, partly 
overgrown with rank grass, but was very difficult to 
cross, and a few days previously had been totally im- 
practicable for horses or camels. 
Four miles and a half beyond this river, through 
a country adorned with fine trees, but without any 
traces of cultivation, we reached a large river about 
250 yards broad, and more than 5 feet deep, run- 
ning here in a north-easterly direction, and no 
doubt identical with the river which we had lately 
crossed. How it is that the river here contains 
so much more water than it does lower down, I can- 
not state with certainty ; but my opinion is, that a 
great portion of it is withdrawn towards the north, 
where the forest seems gradually to slope down to- 
wards the desert region of the centre of Giindumi, 
where, in a sort of mould, or hollow, a large lake-like 
pond is formed. It is rather unfortunate that I had not 
an opportunity of asking information on this subject 
from one of the followers of the ghaladima, who, in- 
stead of crossing the first sheet of water, kept along 
its northern bank, and thus with a longer circuit, 
but without the necessity of embarking in a boat. 
