A TREK THROUGH BORNU 255 



that our kindly entertainers were not offended by 

 our lack of zeal. 



Next day we continued our march, and found the 

 road beyond Gabai was far more beautiful than that 

 we had just traversed. The depressions and iron- 

 stone rocks that had varied the scene the previous 

 day now became actual hills, and the road led across 

 a path so steep and stony that it was difficult for 

 the horses. 



The Kerri-Kerri hills became visible to the north 

 and the Bagi hills to the south, and the slopes and 

 valleys were well wooded. Acacia and mimosa grew 

 everywhere ; also trees with clusters of mauve flowers 

 and shiny leaves like laurels,-^ and others with round 

 red blossoms. Some had sweet-scented yellow flowers, 

 and they, together with clusters of tiny mauve 

 blossoms like small wistaria,^ had no leaves ; while 

 one big shrub showered down white petals that 

 scented the air like syringa.^ 



Brilliant green and blue birds flitted from one tree 

 to another, and occasionally the startling scream of 

 a paroquet was heard. 



Every now and again deep channels cross the 

 road. Here the water races down from the hills in 

 the wet season to the discomfiture of the traveller, 

 for there are no canoes to cross these torrents in 

 Bornu, and the trader waits, if he can, till they dry 

 up and passage is once more easy. 



Those who have to cross do so, we were told, by 

 the aid of a ferryman, who swims over, pushing 

 before him a long pole on which his body rests, and 



^ Stereospermum Kunthianum. 2 Lonchocarpus laxiflorus. 



2 Unidentified. 



