124 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LVI. 
to leave my tent and to sit down for a while on a rock, 
which commanded the whole interior of the town. 
There I had a charming prospect over the scene by 
clear moonlight, while people were busily employed 
the whole night, collecting the small supply of water 
from the channel, for their next day's wants. 
Tuesday, 1 11 order to pass the narrow gate, if gate 
March 29th. -j. ma y ca ]i ec { ? J W as obliged to have the 
two posts which encompassed it on each side removed. 
The whole country round about is rocky, with only a 
slight covering of fertile soil, so that nothing but 
Indian millet is cultivated, which thrives very well 
in rocky ground. But the country was adorned with 
a tolerable variety of trees, such as monkey-bread 
trees, most of which had young leaves, the dorowa, 
the kadena, and the merke. While crossing a small 
rocky ridge, we were joined by a troop of people 
bearing large loads of cotton upon their heads, which 
they were carrying to the considerable market of 
Badar&wa. This cotton was distinguished bv its 
snow-white colour, and seemed to be of very good 
quality. 
Beyond the rocky ridge, the country became more 
open, rich in trees and cultivated fields ; and having 
passed a village, we turned round the south-western 
corner of the w T alled town of Sab6n Birni, making our 
way with great difficulty, and not without some damage 
to the fences as well as to our luggage, through the 
narrow lanes of an open suburb. The western side 
of the town was bordered by a koramma containing 
