Chap. LVIII. FIELDS OF YAMS — BODl'NGA. 
191 
present was not quite wanting in signs of life, the 
plentiful fall of rain having inspired the inhabitants 
of the several villages which were scattered about 
with sufficient confidence to trust their seed to the 
ground. Having then passed a larger village, called 
KafFarawa, we crossed a considerable depression or 
hollow, stretching from S.W. to N.E., with plenty of 
water, and with extensive grounds of yams, a branch of 
cultivation which, in these swampy valleys of Kebbi, is 
carried on to some extent ; and this depression was 
soon succeeded by others of a like nature. Numerous 
herds of cattle were here grazing on the intervening 
pasture-grounds, which were adorned with sycamores 
and monkey-bread trees ; and this continued till we 
reached Bodinga, and took up our quarters in a small 
cluster of huts lying on the outside, close to the wall. 
This time I did not enter the town, but 1 did so on 
my return journey, when I satisfied myself of the 
considerable size of the town, and the state of decay 
and desolation into which it has at present relapsed. 
While we were loading our camels, the Sunday, 
governor of the town, who is a son of May 15th * 
Modibo 'All, of the name of Mohammedu, came out 
to pay me his compliments. He was of a cheerful dis- 
position, and had treated us hospitably the preceding 
evening. He even accompanied me to a considerable 
distance, till we left, on our right, the town of Sifawa 
or Shifawa, an important place in the history of the 
Piillo reformer 'Othman dan Fodiye, but at present 
almost desolate and reduced to great misery, present- 
