312 PROFESSOR SMITH'S JOURNAL. 



which we afterwards boiled, and found to be eatable. We 

 returned in the dark quite loaded. 



During our whole excursion we did not meet with any 

 animal, a few pigeons and small birds excepted, but we saw 

 a great many traces of hippopotami on the shore. Simons 

 was sent to the Tjenu of Benda, in order to procure some 

 men who were acquainted with the country higher up. 

 His account of Benda would seem to prove that the inha- 

 bitants have some intercourse with the Portuguese. He 

 was ceremoniously received. 



August 9th. We sailed somewhat higher up. I passed 

 over to the north side of the river. The vegetation is with- 

 out variety, and the steep hills overgrown with grass, in 

 which Avas only found growing an Euphorbia. I fired 

 three shots at an allio;ator. In the evening it was resolved 

 that we should go to Banza Nokki, the residence of a Tjenu, 

 by the way of Condo Sonjo. The north side is generally 

 called Benda. 



August 10th. Simons was dispatched to announce the 

 intended visit of the Captain. Early in the morning Ave 

 set out on our journey, and proceeded over the hills and 

 across the small plain, where we had been two days before. 

 The slate formation here ceases. The rounded mountains 

 on the other side rise to a greater height, with projecting 

 cliffs of a more cubical form. The transition is formed by 

 a compact mica-slate with a large proportion of feldspar. 



The .... of the mica mountains 



perhaps sienite. It is granular as granite, and composed of 

 quartz, feldspar and a third metallic substance. Blocks of 



