much difficulty, I procured a lodging for the night.

August 17.--Early in the morning I pursued my journey, and at eight
o'clock passed a considerable town called Balaba, after which the
road quits the plain, and stretches along the side of the hill. I
passed in the course of this day the ruins of three towns, the
inhabitants of which were all carried away by Daisy, king of Kaarta,
on the same day that he took and plundered Yamina. Near one of
these ruins I climbed a tamarind-tree, but found the fruit quite
green and sour, and the prospect of the country was by no means
inviting, for the high grass and bushes seemed completely to
obstruct the road, and the low lands were all so flooded by the
river, that the Niger had the appearance of an extensive lake. In
the evening I arrived at Kanika, where the dooty, who was sitting
upon an elephant's hide at the gate, received me kindly, and gave me
for supper some milk and meal, which I considered (as to a person in
my situation it really was) a very great luxury.

August 18.--By mistake I took the wrong road, and did not discover
my error until I had travelled nearly four miles, when, coming to an
eminence, I observed the Niger considerably to the left. Directing
my course towards it, I travelled through long grass and bushes with
great difficulty until two o'clock in thee afternoon, when I came to
a comparatively small but very rapid river, which I took at first
for a creek, or one of the streams of the Niger. However, after I
had examined it with more attention, I was convinced that it was a
distinct river, and as the road evidently crossed it (for I could
see the pathway on the opposite side), I sat down upon the bank in
hopes that some traveller might arrive who would give me the
necessary information concerning the fording-place--for the banks