92 JOURNAL OF THE 
Tuesday, August 31.—1 had twice an opportunity of vi- 
siting the shore for a short while. "The first time, I found a 
terrestrial Orchidea, 4 feet high; a great part of the jungle 
on the right shore consisted of a Fig-tree, with long branch- 
lets, covered with fructification shooting out from the old 
wood, its white bark was visible at a great distance. "The 
ants were here dreadfully troublesome. At two o'clock, when 
passing an island, we perceived a strong very sweet smell, 
(almost like the Tetracera which I had collected on the 24th), 
but I could not descry any flowers through the telescope. 
In the afternoon we saw, at a distance, on the left shore, the 
first low hills, and soon afterwards a watercourse on 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 
pertly emerging from the water, exactly like canoes. The a : 
river, since we left Ibu, (Abób), 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, en vul- = 
