50 TRAVELS IN THE 
bed than a bundle of corn stalks, and no provisions but what we 
brought with us. The wells here are dug with great ingenuity, 
and are very deep. I measured one of the bucket ropes, and' 
found the depth of the well to be 28 fathoms. 
Dec. 19th. We departed from Buggil, and travelled along a 
dry, stony height, covered with mimosas, till mid-day ; when 
the land sloped towards the east, and we descended into a 
deep valley, in which I observed abundance of whin-stone, and 
white quartz. Pursuing our course to the eastward, along this 
valley, in the bed of an exhausted river course, we came to a large 
village, where we intended to lodge. We found many of the na- 
tives, dressed in a thin French gauze, which they called Byqui; 
this being a light airy dress, and well calculated to display 
the shape of their persons, is much esteemed by the ladies. 
The manners of these females, however, did not correspond with 
their dress ; for they were rude and troublesome in the highest' 
degree ; they surrounded me in numbers, begging for amber,^ 
beads, &c. ; and were so vehement in their solicitations, that I 
found it impossible to resist them. They tore my cloak, cut the 
buttons from my boy's clothes, and were proceeding to other 
outrages, when I mounted my horse and rode off, followed for 
half a mile by a body of these harpies. 
In the evening we reached Soobrudooka, and as my com- 
pany was numerous, (being fourteen) I purchased a sheep, and 
abundance of corn for siipper ; after which we lay down by the 
bundles, and passed an uncomfortable night in a heavy dew. 
Dec. 20th . We departed from Soobrudooka, and at two o'clock 
reached a large village situated on the banks of the Faleme 
