VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. _ 93 
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 
telescope we descried these fancied flowers to be white birds, 
(Egrets?) of which several stalked, here and there, along 
the shore.  — : 
Thursday, September 2. — Beyond Damugu, the land 
appears again lower and covered with jungle. I think that 
the shores of the main river are mostly lined with forests, 
and the islands covered with grass and underwood. To- 
wards noon we came to finely wooded hills, and in the 
evening, King William’s Mountain appeared, (see Allen’s 
chart.) I had twice the opportunity of going for a short - 
time on shore. First to an open place, covered with _ 
grass, where I found Cassia Absus, mimosoides ? a Psoralea, 
some Graminee, Malvacee and Schmidelee ; a Sarcocephalus 
grew likewise here. The second time was near a village, 
where the cottages are round, and plaited of palm- , 
and grass. Storehouses, raised on poles, are filled with Indian l 
corn. A Tephrosia (toxicaria), almost arborescent, was 
planted about the huts, which a Krooman told me, was used 
to benumb the fish. A fine red flower, on a high tree, could 
not be procured ; it appeared to be Beauvois’ Spathodea, 
and I fancied I had seen it several times in the Delta. = 
Friday, September 3.—We can quite overlook the country oe 
from on board our vessel. On both sides, the river is mar- 
gined at some. distance with hills; further off, towards the 
e rise moins ston opi with blue. nist. 
