XXII.] " GOOD MORNING." 297 



dirty, and usually contains much saltpetre, is formed into small October, 

 cones averaging three pounds in weight. This salt is carried i^'^*. 

 long distances for purposes of trade, and is greedily sought after 

 by tribes who have none in their country. 



After a hot afternoon march through an extensive marsh, 

 with water and mud waist-deep in the only practicable passage 

 through the dense vegetation by which it was overgrown, we 

 arrived on the banks of a small stream shaded by fine trees, and 

 on the other side was Kilemba, Jumah Merikani's settlement. 



We halted until a messenger had been sent to apprise Jumah 

 Merikani of our arrival, according to Arab etiquette ; and when 

 he had returned, we crossed the stream. As I reached the other 

 bank, my hand was warmly grasped and shaken by a fine portly 

 Arab with a slight dash of the tar-brush, who gave me the ben- 

 efit of the only two English words he knew — " Good morning." 

 This was Jumah Merikani, who proved to be the kindest and 

 most hospitable of the many friends I found among the Arab 

 traders in Africa. 



He conducted me to his large and substantially built house, 

 situated in the midst of a village surrounded by large planta- 

 tions of rice and corn, and did every thing in his power to make 

 me feel thoroughly at home and comfortable. 



