Chap. LVIT. CAPTAIN CLAPPERTON'S ROUTE. 169 
highly the zeal and accuracy (allowance being made 
for his positions of longitude) with which this emi- 
nent and successful traveller, who crossed the whole 
breadth of the African continent between the Medi- 
terranean and the Bight of Benin, has laid down 
his various journeys. On the other hand, the com- 
panion of his former travels, Major Denham, has 
shown great inaccuracy, both with respect to dis- 
tances as well as to the direction of his various 
routes. 
The ground was enlivened by the cultivation of 
" rogo," which, when attaining a certain growth, 
contributes greatly to the beauty of the scenery ; but 
kiika or baobab trees were almost the only larger 
vegetable production which adorned the country 
during the first part of our ride, sometimes shooting 
out from between the verv blocks of sandstone with 
which the hills were strewn. Further on, another 
tree, called "kadasi," and a few small tamarind trees 
also appeared, and the tops of the ant-hills, which at 
times form regular rows, were often adorned with the 
fine fresh-leaved bush " serkeki." The ground, which 
consists of black argillaceous soil, " laka " or " firki," 
as it is called in Bornu, not yet fertilized by the 
rainy season, was cracked and torn asunder, while the 
white "kali balbale" (Buphaga africana), which 
enliven every district of Negroland where cattle are 
common, were stalking about in the fields, looking out 
for food. But cattle at the present time were sought 
for in vain. Here they would have found no pasture, 
