34 
TRAVELS m AFRICA. Chap. LIII. 
Bedde, and at that time forming part of the estate of 
Maid Ibram. The village is situated on a small mound 
close to the swamp or jungle ; for the water is so 
thickly covered with forest, that no portion of the 
aqueous element is to be seen. It forms rather what 
the Kaniiri call an ngaljarn (that is to say, a swampy 
shallow creek or backwater, having little or no incli- 
nation) than a kuliigu ; and there can be no doubt of 
its connection with the great komadugu of Bornu. 
The natives call it at this spot Gojagwa*, and further 
on, Maje. They are pagans, and wear nothing but a 
narrow leather apron or fun6 round their loins f, with 
the exception of a few Kaniiri, who are living amongst 
them, and who cultivate a small quantity of cotton, for 
which the banks of the swamp are very well suited, 
and would no doubt be extensively used for this pur- 
pose if the country were inhabited by civilized people. 
The Bedde, according to their language, are closely 
related to the Manga, but, as far as I had an oppor- 
tunity of judging, are much inferior to them in bodily 
development, being not at all distinguished for their 
stature ; but it is very probable that the inhabitants 
of these places in the border district, who come into 
* I almost suspect that this is the water of which Mr. Hutchinson, 
when in Ashanti, heard a report from the natives under the name 
"koumouda Gaiguina." (Bowdich's Mission to Ashantee, p. 213.) 
f What Koelle relates (Kaniiri Proverbs, p. 82, text; p. 211, 
transl.) on the authority of his informant, that the Bedde, or 
Bode as he writes, wear wide shirts, " kalgu," besides the funo, of 
course (as is the case also with the Margin) can only have reference 
to those amongst them who have adopted Islam. 
