240 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LIX. 
field had begun. The people here make use of a hoe 
with a long handle, of a different shape from what I 
observed in other quarters. 
Forest and cultivated ground then again succeeded 
each other alternately ; and having passed a farming- 
village of some extent called Tanna, we took up our 
quarters about four miles beyond, in a village called 
Tondifii, but were obliged to use force to obtain a 
hut for our use, as the head man of the village was 
too lazy, or too obstinate, to leave his cool shed in the 
heat of the day : probably here also the news of the 
proceedings of their countrymen in Zaberma kept the 
minds of the people in a state of excitement. The 
hamlet, which is rather a miserable one, has received 
its name from lying at the commencement of a rocky 
district, which extends from here to the river, a 
hill or mound being called " t6ndi" in the Songhay 
language. We were now close to the Niger ; and I 
was justified in indulging in the hope that I might 
the next day behold with my own eyes that great 
river of Western Africa, which has caused such 
intense curiosity in Europe, and the upper part of 
the large eastern branch of which I had myself dis- 
covered. 
Monday, Elated with such feelings, I set out the 
June 20th. nex t morning, at an early hour ; and after 
a march of a little less than two hours, through a 
rocky wilderness covered with dense bushes, I ob- 
tained the first sight of the river, and in less than 
an hour more, during which I was in constant sight 
