Chap. LIII. CHARACTER OF THE KOMA'dUGU. 
21 
partridges, would prove worthy of his attention, 
while occasional encounters with monkeys would 
cause him some diversion and amusement. 
At present the water was decreasing rapidly * ; 
but this part had been entirely dry at the begin- 
ning of September, when the late Mr. Overweg 
had visited it, and the conclusion then drawn by 
him, that the river inundates its banks in Novem- 
ber, was entirely confirmed by my own experience. 
There was a great deal of cultivation along this 
luxuriant border, and even a little cotton was grown ; 
but a very large amount of the latter article might 
be obtained here with a greater degree of industry. 
Besides a village at a short distance to the S.E., in- 
habited by Koyam, and which bears the same name as 
this branch of the river, there is a hamlet, consisting 
of about thirty cottages, inhabited by Fulbe, or Fellata, 
of the tribe of the Hillega, the same tribe whom we 
have met in A'damawa. They seemed to possess a 
considerable number of cattle, and appeared to lead a 
contented and retired life in this fertile but at present 
almost desolate region. But, unfortunately, they have 
been induced, by their close contact with the Kaniiri, 
to give up the nice manner of preparing their milk 
which so distinguishes the Fulbe in other provinces ; 
and even the cheerful way in which the women offered 
us their ware could not induce me to purchase of them 
* Compare what I have said with regard to the periods of the 
rising and decreasing of this river in Vol. III. p. 474. 
c 3 
