58 JOURNAL OF THE 
same side; apparently quite still, for the current of the Niger | 
ran in a sharply distinct line athwart it. This part, including 
the hills and river, is said to be called « Oredtha ;” it is 
opposite Kirro market, (so named in Allen’s chart.) In this 
branch of the river grew many Pistie ; but higher up the 
Niger, we also met them floating in large quantities. This 
plant appears to have been displaced, by rising waters, from 
its tranquil domicile, as is frequently the case with others: 
for we pass many small floating islands of grass and other 
plants, clumps of rolled-up grass, and stems of huge trees, 
appearing in the distance, with their roots and branches 
partly emerging from the water, exactly like canoes. The 
river, since we left Ibu, (Abdh), continues about half-a-mile 
in width, sometimes more: the water very muddy, and of a 
clay colour: the shores low, covered with brushwood, inter- 
twined with so many creepers as to form, sometimes for 
great distances, a vegetable wall. This wall was particularly 
remarkable on the left side of the said still water ; behind it 
rose a few hillocks, with much cultivation, (Sorghum vul- 
gare?) amongst which single trees were interspersed. A 
peculiar feature of this part consists in the small huts raised 
on poles along the shore; from which the natives, according 
to Brown, drop their fishing-lines into the river. 
Wednesday, September 1.—This morning the river was 
very wide, in one part above a mile, and covered with Pistie. 
There were hills, especially on the left side, but they ceased 
before we reached Damugu.* Of this place we only discerned 
a few huts, the first round ones, with a pointed overhanging 
grass roof. On the whole we saw to-day but few villages: 
if there are more, they must lie beyond the jungle. Nor did 
we observe any Cocoa palms, which had occurred in several 
places on the previous day. About Damugu, the country 
- seems covered with high forests: hitherto, there had been - 
only low woods. "Towards evening, we saw isolated high — 
trees, apparently covered with blossoms; but through the 
T OR Addá-Mugu.—(H. D. Trotter.) 
