104 
JOURNEY FROM KATUNGA TO BOUSSA. 
people, amongst which were many Fellatas, the chief of whom 
sent me a sheep, honey, and milk. The sultan, when I inquired 
of him again to-day about the papers of my unfortunate country- 
men, said that the late imam, a Fellata, had had possession of 
all the books and papers, and that he had fled from Boussa some 
time since. This was a death-blow to all future inquiries here ; 
and the whole of the information concerning the affair of the boat, 
her crew, and cargo, which I was likely to gain here, I have already 
stated. Every one in fact appeared uneasy when 1 asked for in- 
formation, and said it had happened before their remembrance, or 
that they did not see it. They pointed out the place w here the boat 
struck, and the unfortunate crew perished. Even this was done 
with caution, and as if by stealth ; though, in every thing un- 
connected with that affair, they were most ready to give me what 
information I asked ; and never in my life have I been treated with 
more hospitality or kindness. 
The place pointed out to me, where the boat and crew were 
lost, is in the eastern channel : the river being divided into three 
branches at this place, not one of which is more than a good pistol- 
shot across. A low flat island, of about a quarter of a mile in breadth, 
lies between the town of Boussa and the fatal spot, which is in a 
line, from the sultan’s, house, with a double-trunked tree with white 
bark, standing singly on the low flat island. The bank is not par- 
ticularly high at present, being only about ten feet above the level 
of this branch, which here breaks over a gray slate rock, extending 
quite across to the eastern shore : this shore rises into gentle hills, 
composed of gray slate, thinly scattered with trees ; and the grass 
at this season gives it a dry and withered appearance. 
The city of Boussa is situated on an island in the river Quorra, 
and is in latitude 10° 14' north, longitude 6° 11' east. The course 
of the Quorra here is from north-north- west to south-south-east by 
compass ; and, as they informed me, is full of islands and rocks as far 
