90 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA 
Chap. LV. 
the south, contains a considerable grove of diim 
palms. We encamped close to the well,, which is 
fourteen fathoms deep, at some distance from the 
village, which has a tolerably comfortable appearance, 
although it had been ransacked two years before by 
the governor of Katsena ; but, in these regions, 
dwelling-places are as easily restored as they are 
destroyed. The inhabitants are notorious for their 
thievish propensities ; and we had to take precautions 
accordingly. The whole of this country is rich in 
beans ; and we bought plenty of dried bean-tressels, 
which are made up in small bundles, and called 
" harawa " by the Arabs, affording most excellent 
food for the camels. 
Wednesday, Several native travellers had attached 
February 2nd. themselves to my troop. Amongst them 
was an abominable slave-dealer who was continually 
beating his poor victims. I was extremely glad to get 
rid of this man here, he, as well as the other people, 
being bound for Tasawa, which I was to leave at some 
distance on my right. While my people were loading 
the camels, I roved about, making a very pleasant 
promenade along the vale, which was richly adorned 
with dum palms. Having set out at length, keep- 
ing a little too much towards the west, and crossing 
the great highroad which comes from Tasawa, we 
passed several villages on our road, while dum palms 
and tamarind trees enlivened the country where the 
ground was not cultivated, but especially the many 
small and irregular hollows which we traversed. 
