Chap. LIX. SONGHAY FARMING-HAMLETS. 237 
There had been a thunder-storm in the Fridayj 
n ight ; but it was not accompanied with June 17th * 
much rain, and the sky, not having been lightened by 
a discharge, was thickly overcast when we set out. 
An extensive tract of country consisting of sandy 
soil was here under cultivation, while the trees at 
first were very scanty ; but gradually the country 
became more wooded, while considerable herds of 
cattle gave life to the landscape. After we had passed 
another pond of water, we halted for a few minutes 
to refresh ourselves near a herd of cattle, which was 
the property of a clan of Fiilbe, called Danan-koye, 
the original inhabitants belonging to that part of 
the Songhay nation which are called Germabe ; and 
proceeding through a more woody country with an 
undulating surface, we took up our quarters, at a 
very early hour, in another farming-village, called 
Tig6re : for my camels were in want of rest, and I 
was too weak myself to resist the wishes of my 
servants. This village is exclusively inhabited by in- 
dependent farmers, although belonging to the native 
Songhay stock. The architecture of the place was en- 
tirely different from that of Songho-sare (which is 
more of a slave-village), consisting of very large court- 
yards, which evidently appeared intended for a rich 
supply of cattle, although at the present moment 
no cattle were to be seen in the neighbourhood ; and 
the huts themselves, although consisting entirely of 
reeds, were large and spacious. We had some dif- 
