VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 83 
Hitherto we had met few natives ; but they now began to 
show themselves, more and more numerous, in their small 
canoes. Their thatched huts, close to the river, were sur- 
rounded by plantations of Pisang, descending apparently into 
the water. I saw occasionally Bombax trees, or Leguminose 
and Mimoseæ, easily distinguishable by their peculiar foliage, 
and some other trees, which might have been taken for 
species of Ficus. The trees increased in number, and to- 
wards evening, we passed shores covered with tall Æeeds, 
beyond which thick forests extended; but under no circum- 
stances was there a deficiency of Oil Palms. Alternating 
with reeds, we observed plantations of Pisang and Sugar-cane, 
completely in water, close to small villages which became 
very numerous. After sunset, we anchored in the midst of 
the stream. From Alburka Island we reckon to have 
made thirty-five English miles, (or forty from the sea.) 
Saturday, August 21.—We proceeded, the three ships in 
company, at day-break. The vegetation resembled, on the 
whole, what we had seen yesterday ; the trees often descend- 
ing close to the water, and exhibiting a mass of parasites of - 
most singular forms. Sometimes I saw flowers, and fruit, 
which only made me regret, that I could not examine them 
closer. In Madeira I botanized on horseback, at Cape Coast 3 
Castle out of a carriage, and at Acura i ina basket; but 
frequent ; in the plantations we saw ebur. e telescope) 
besides Pisang and Sugar, occasionally Cassada, Maize and —— 
Yam ; to which may be added the Oil palm and the Cocoa, 
similar to the latter, but (here at least) not so slender, being 
rather short and of vigorous growth. But whilst the 
palm grew every where, the Cocoa showed itself on 
villages; a sure proof of its not being indigeno 
after noon, an attempt was made to proceed by a 
the usual branch of the : river, round 
that it did not speedily join the 
i weeds from the other x i i 
