50 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. L1V. 
whole eastern part of these northern provinces has 
been laid waste and depopulated, while the energetic 
rulers of the province of Miiniyo have not only suc- 
ceeded in defending their little territory, but have 
even extended it in a certain degree, encroaching 
little by little upon the neighbouring province of 
Diggera, a tribe of the Tawarek, whom I have men- 
tioned on a former occasion.* 
The country in general preserved the same cha- 
racter as on the previous day, — the narrow vales and 
glens inclosed by the granitic eminences being well 
cultivated, and studded with small hamlets, in some 
of which the huts approached the architecture usual 
in Kanem. Several troops of natives met us on the 
road, with pack-oxen, over the backs of which large 
baskets were thrown by means of a sort of network ; 
they were returning from the capital, having delivered 
their quota of the ashiir or " kiingona maibe." The 
system of tax-paying in these western provinces is 
very different from that usual in Bornu Proper, as I 
shall soon have another opportunity of relating. 
After a march of about six miles, an isolated date 
palm announced a different region, and a little fur- 
ther on we entered the valley of Tiingure, running 
from west to east, and adorned with a fine plantation 
of cotton, besides a grove of about two hundred date 
palms. Having traversed this valley where the road 
leads to Bllla Mallem Gargebe, we entered a thicket 
of mimosas, while the eminences assumed a rounder 
* Vol. II. p. 72. 
