Most people who undertake this journey, go from Waláta to Basikúnnu, and
thence to Sansándi, along the track described above; for the direct
route which I am now about to communicate, according to the statements
of my two informants, leads through a district much frequented by Arabs
from El Hódh, whom peaceful travellers endeavour to avoid. I first give
the route according to Shékho Weled Ámmer Waláti.
1st day. Simberínne, a spot in the sandhills only a short, or rather
half a day’s march.
2nd. Ríni, a well.
3rd. E’ Shemín, a well of great depth.
4th. Sigánneját, a group of shallow wells, dry in summer.
5th. Dendáre, a large tank or dhaye, site of a former ksar, with an
extensive forest, or “ghába.”
6th. Kork, a wooded and hilly locality.
7th. El Barúk, a well.
8th. Búgla, a deep well, surrounded by fine groups of the tédum, or
baobab. You pass, on the road, the wells El Ghánimát and Jellúk.
9th. El Tréik, a well, or El Mákrunát, a little further on.
10th. Atwél, a well to the east of Sinyáre, or you may make a long
march, and go to Farabúgu, a Bámbara village.
11th. Kála, a large town of Bámbara, only two or three hours from
Farabúgu. It is no doubt the same Kála which once constituted a small
kingdom of itself, and of which Áhmed Bábá speaks so repeatedly.[72] In
course of time it constituted one of the three great divisions of the
empire of Melle, the two others being Benne-ndúgu and Sabardúgu.
12th. Sara-dóbú, or Sara-dúgu.
13th. Falam-búgu.
14th. Swéra.
15th. Sansándi.