Chap. XLII. MAJOR DENHAM'S ADVENTURE. 125 
his voyage on the Tsad ; and in this way there was 
no end of feasting. Nor was there any want of intel- 
lectual food, the inquisitive and restless vizier being 
desirous of learning from us as much as possible on 
this expedition, where he enjoyed plenty of leisure. 
Here we remained also the following day, as some 
more detachments were to join the army.* 
The ng&ufate advanced as far as the Friday, 
town of Marte. Not far from Yedi there November 2 ' 8th - 
extends, in a southerly direction, a very expansive 
plain devoid of any sort of vegetation except some 
mimosas. This is the beginning of the "firki" ground, 
which comprises so large a space in the southern 
regions of Bornu, and of which I have repeatedly 
spoken on former occasions; but the plantation of the 
Holms cernuus, called " masakwa " or mosogd " 
(which is limited to this peculiar territory), had not 
turned out well this year, in consequence of the scar- 
city of rain. 
I had marched in advance with my camel, when 
the vizier got sight of me, and begged me to come 
to the sheikh. After having saluted me in the most 
friendly way, he asked me why I always wore my 
pistols in my belt round the waist, instead of fixing 
them at the saddle-bow ; but he praised my fore- 
sight when I appealed to the example of Rais Khalil, 
who, when thrown from his horse, on his unlucky 
* Between Yedi and the Tsad, the following places are situ- 
ated — Lega, a considerable town surrounded by a wall ; Dibbuwa, 
Jiggeri, Manawaze, Gordina, and Mogolam. 
