146 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
Franks, in confequence of what had happened between them 
and the Englifh veffel in 1786, I thought it moft advifable to 
haften my departure, though otherwife inclined to have made 
fome excurfions by fea, as to the emerald mine, maadden ezzum- 
merudy &c. 
13th Nov. at 7f hours A. M. we left Cofsir, and proceeding 
by the ftrait road, apparently that which Bruce travelled, on 
the 15th, about five P. M. arrived at the village called Bir-Am- 
bar, having met a caravan coming from Ghenne the fecond day 
on the road. The morning of the i6th at fun-rife we pro- 
ceeded to Ghenne, which is diftant about three hours, having 
flept at Bir-Ambar in the houfe of a villager, who was very 
civil and hofpitable. There was an officer at Cofsir, who be- 
longed to the Caflief of Kenne, but he feemed to have very 
little authority with the people, being there only to colled the 
cuftoms. 
The road we travelled in going to Cofsir, as well as that we 
took in returning, have both fomething in them very remark- 
able. The rough and lofty rocks of granite and porphyry with 
which it is on all fides environed have a magnificent and ter- 
rific appearance ; and the road between them, which is almoft 
level throughout, gives the idea of immenfe labour in cutting 
it. All thefe circumftances concur in teftifying the importance 
Cofsir muft once have had as a pert. In the route we took in 
going, at certain diftances on the higheft rocks is obfervable a 
fucceffion of fmall ftrudures, formed with uncemented ftones, 
and which, by the marks of fire within them, feem to have 
ferved 
