SOUNIB ARA. 
397 
Though there were some cattle in the village, yet we could 
procure no milk. There were in some of the huts beds 
formed of three or four trunks of trees, raised a little above 
the ground ; we had one of these beds in our hut. Between 
the trunks of the trees, a small intervening space is left, 
into which I crept with the intention of taking a nap ; but 
I found myself so uncomfortable, that I was glad to stretch 
myself on the floor, covered with my wrapper. 
On the 26th of January, at six in the morning, we set 
out in the direction of E.N. E. We passed a small marsh, 
which, being dried up, afforded pasture for a few sheep. We 
also forded a river, which runs into the Dhioliba ; the 
water was more than knee-deep at the part where we crossed. 
We pursued our course over a sandy gravelly soil, the coun- 
try presenting one uniform aspect for the space of four or 
five miles. About eight in the morning we arrived at Souni- 
bara, a small village, containing a population of about two 
or three hundred. Not being able to procure provisions 
here, we made no halt. After leaving the village, we passed 
some wells, fifteen or sixteen feet deep. The ground in 
which they were dug was composed of a reddish kind of 
sand, mixed with much gravel. I also observed veins of 
grey argillaceous earth mixed with gravel, about two feet 
and a half thick : the earth nearest to the water was argilla- 
ceous, and contained some flints. These wells afford abun- 
dance of good water, but it has a whitish tint from the clay. 
We saw a number of women employed in washing their 
pagnes. They draw the water from the wells in small cala- 
bashes, attached to ropes made of the bark of trees ; and 
other calabashes of larger size served them to wash in. I 
saw that they used a kind of soap, called in the country 
sahoune or safnan. These names are known throughout 
the interior, from the Senegal to Bondou, Caarta, and Cason. 
The Brakna Moors call their soap sabon. All these words 
