Chap. LXIV. MOHAMMED BONYA'MI. 
371 
we were to embark on the river. Having emerged 
from the low swampy ground, we entered again 
sandy downs, principally clothed with haskanit, da- 
mankadda, and bu-rekkeba or Panicum colonum, and, 
having left on one side a smaller channel, we reached 
the branch of Fatta, which extends almost as far as 
Sarayamo, running parallel to several other creeks, 
called after the villages Kasba, Haibongo, and Bene- 
senga, which intersect the district named Boddu. 
The water at first formed a narrow irregular chan- 
nel of about 200 yards wide, very much resembling 
an artificial canal, as is the case with a great many 
of these backwaters, but gradually it began to widen, 
affording excellent soil for the cultivation of rice. 
Between this channel and the river, there are se- 
veral other branches, which appear to join the creek 
which I navigated from Sarayamo. Altogether, in 
this level part of the Niger, the river appears to 
spread out in a labyrinth of channels and water- 
courses. As for the rice which was grown here ex- 
clusively, it appeared to have been just sown with 
the assistance of the dew, which suffices for its 
growth till the river rises and spreads its inundation. 
Here we passed a small village inhabited by a 
Tarki, or rather Kel-e'-suki, of the name of Mo- 
hammed Bonyami, who has settled here with his 
property, and who, while we passed by, came out of 
his hut, and, astonished at my unusual appearance, 
and delighted at seeing a stranger from such a 
distance, entreated me in the kindest manner to 
B B 2 
