44 CABRA, THE PORT OF TIMBUCTOO. 
for some boats, which could not proceed as fast as ours. 
This island is very flat and sandy, but I observed some 
specimens of the mimosa, balanitis cegyptiaca, and other 
stunted shrubs. 
About nine o'clock we again put off, and at ten arrived 
at a place where the river separates into two branches : the 
principal of these might be three-quarters of a mile broad, 
running gently E. S. E. 5 the direction of the other is 
E. by N. ; it is deep, and its breadth is from thirty-five to 
forty paces. 
About one o'clock p.m. we arrived at the port of Cabra, 
and I was informed that 1 might quit my prison, the Soor- 
goos having remained behind ; 1 speedily went on deck, 
whence I could see nothing around me but flooded mo- 
rasses covered with aquatic birds. This arm of the river 
is very narrow, and the current stronger than in the large 
arm. I think it not unlikely that at a little distance it 
joins the Dhioliba, for in this place the branch inclines to 
the east. If this is the case, the river forms a large marshy 
island, which must be flooded during the inundations. 
Across these immense marshes is discovered the village 
or little town of Cabra, situated on a small hill, which pro- 
tects it from inundation. I was told that in the rainy season 
these marshes are covered with water to the depth of ten feet, 
which appeared to me a surprising depth for so vast a space, 
and that at those periods large vessels cast anchor before 
Cabra. A little canal leads to this village ; but small boats 
only can enter the port. If the canal were cleared of the 
grass and nenuphars which choke the passage, vessels of 
twenty-five tons burthen might go up it in all seasons ; but 
such a task would be too toilsome for the negroes. 
I embarked on board a small canoe, in company with 
the Moors from Adrar, to proceed to Cabra. The negro 
slaves hauled the canoe along by a rope, as the pole would 
not have been sufficient to move it. We met several small 
