CHAPTER IX FROM SAY TO KUSSA BkLOW Fort Archiriard the river divides into a number of arms ; the islands formed by them as well as the banks of the river were deserted, but clothed with lofty trees, such as baobabs, palms, and other tropical growths.

Although the water was now pretty well at its maximum .height, a good many scarcely-covered rocks impeded its bed, and rapids were numerous. Of little danger to us, for we had seen worse, and safely passed them, but bad enough to make navigation impossible to a steamer.

On September 1 6, at about seven o'clock in the morning, we passed a little encampment on the left bank, consisting of one hut, and some millet granaries. 1 imagine this to have been the landing-place for Kibtachi, for at halfpast five in the afternoon we found we had made some fortyfour miles since we started, so we must have passed the village without seeing it. I was sorry not to have been able to visit the mines of bracelets and rings, probably of cornelian, of which the natives had told me, but at the same time 1 403