Chap. LXIII. DISTRICT OF Ml'OTA. 
353 
through which we passed is called Minta, and is rich 
in ironstone, while ruins of former smelting-places are 
seen in different localities ; but it was extremely 
barren, extensive tracts of bleak native soil, called 
"nega " or "hamraye," fatiguing the eye under a hot 
African sun. Further on the soil became swampy, 
and bore frequent footprints of the elephant: but 
after a march of a little more than three miles, 
while we again returned into a northerly direction, 
we entered an undulating sandy tract clothed with 
bushes, and two miles and a half beyond again en- 
camped on the site of a Tawarek amazagh. Here, 
after having made some presents, we were well treated, 
two sheep being slaughtered for us ; but we passed a 
most uncomfortable night on account of the vast 
number of mosquitoes which infested the place. 
We at length made a tolerable day's Thursday, 
march in order to reach the small town of Au s ust 18th - 
Bambara, which forms the southernmost of the fixed 
settlements of the Songhay along the creeks and back- 
waters of the river in this part of the country. The 
district through which we passed in the beginning of 
our march formed a tolerable level, thickly over- 
grown with bushes and the feathery bristle, which gra- 
dually attained such a height, as to reach the rider on 
horseback. At times also the poisonous euphorbia pre- 
dominated, and after a march of about nine miles our 
old friend the hajilij, or Balanites wgyptiaca, which 
I did not remember to have seen since leaving Fogha, 
began to appear. But far more cheerful than the 
VOL. IV. A A 
