TAKING OBSERVATIONS. 355 



goods are carried on the head, or on one shoulder, in a 

 sort of basket attached to the extremities of two poles 

 between five and six feet long, and called Motete. When 

 the basket is placed on the head, the poles project forwards 

 horizontally, and when the carrier wishes to rest himself, 

 he plants them on the ground and the burden against a 

 tree, so he is not obliged to lift it up from the ground to 

 the level of the head. It stands against the tree propped 

 up by the poles at that level. The carrier frequently 

 plants the tjoles on the ground, and stands holding the 

 burden until he has taken breath, thus avoiding the 

 trouble of placing the burden on the ground and lifting it 

 up again. 



When a company of these carriers, or our own party, 

 arrives at one of these sleeping-places, immediate posses- 

 sion is taken of the sheds. Those who come late and find 

 all occupied, must then erect others for themselves ; but 

 this is not difficult, for there is no lack of long grass. No 

 sooner do any strangers appear at the spot, than the 

 women may be seen emerging from their villages bearing 

 baskets of manioc-meal, roots, ground-nuts, yams, bird's- 

 eye pepper, and garlic for sale. Calico, of which we had 

 brought some from Cassange, is the chief medium of 

 exchange. We found them all civil, and it was evident 

 from the amount of talking and laughing in bargaining, 

 that the ladies enjoyed their occupation. They must 

 cultivate largely, in order to be able to supply the constant 

 succession of strangers. Those, however, near to the 

 great line of road, purchase also much of the food from 

 the more distant villages for the sake of gain. 



Pitsane and another of the men had violent attacks of 

 fever, and it was no wonder, for the dampness and 

 evaporation from the ground was excessive. When at any 

 time I attempted to get an observation of a star, if the 

 trough of mercury were placed on the ground, so much 

 moisture was condensed on the inside of the glass roof 

 over it, that it was with difficulty the reflection of the 

 star could be seen. When the trough was placed on a 

 box to prevent the moisture entering from below, so much 

 dew was deposited on the outside of the roof, that it was 

 soon necessary, for the sake of distinct vision, to wipe the 

 glass. This would not have been of great consequence, 

 but a short exposure to this dew was so sure to bring on a 

 fresh fever, that I was obliged to give up observations by 



