I.] KAOLI. 27 



some straggling huts, we reached the sea -beach, and here the February, 

 Jemidar informed us that we must take the more inland path, ^^'^^^ 

 as the tide was high. Two of the jemidar's train now joined 

 us, one being a good-looking young fellow with the color show- 

 ing through his skin, although as nearly black as a man could 

 be. His shield, sword, and dagger were very handsome. 



^¥e now struck farther inland, and found the path more 

 winding than the labyrinth of Crete ; but it led us through a 

 fertile country. For some time our road lay along a large tract 

 planted with yams, manioc, etc., and the jemidar pointed to the 

 fields of rice, and told us that oranges, mangoes, and other fruits 

 grew iu the adjacent woods. The cultivated ground was sur- 

 rounded by a thorn hedge wnth which no "bullfinch" in En- 

 gland could be compared, for it was from twelve to fifteen feet 

 high, and about ten thick. Through this we went by an arched 

 opening, and came to an uncultivated part of the country, wdiere 

 the grass grew in large thick tufts, often so high that it flapped 

 in our faces and hindered our progress. 



At last, after a two hours' w\alk, we again reached the beach 

 close to Kaoli, when the jemidar and his friends began firing 

 into the air to apprise the people of our arrival. The old 

 matchlock and flint pistol did their work well, making reports 

 like young cannon ; but one of the jemidar's personal attend- 

 ants could not manage to make his fossil weapon produce any 

 sound whatever. And the other, who was armed with a worn- 

 out French fowling-piece, was little better, as there was at least 

 a second between the explosion of the cap and that of the 

 charge, which rather detracted from-the effect. Together they 

 might possibly have been heard, but separately their efforts 

 were drowned by the rippling of the sea upon the beach. 



On our arrival, we were most warmly welcomed by Soorghi, 

 as well as by Jemidar Sabr and his retinue. 



We first visited Soorghi, the chief of the customs on the 

 main-land — to whom we had letters of introduction from Lakh- 

 midass, who farms all the sultan's revenue — and made inquiries 

 about pagazi. He advised us to send to Saadani to beat up for 

 them, promising letters and soldiers to assist in this work. 



After a time, during which Jemidar Sabr had been absent, 

 we received a message from him inviting us to his residence, 



