208 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XLIV. 
the whole of the cavalry and a portion of the Kanembii 
spearmen, led on by our new ally the chief of Demrao, 
who, mounted on a little pony, clad in his new black 
garment, presented a very awkward and ridiculous 
appearance. 
The first village which we reached, after about an 
hour's march through a clear forest, was quite de- 
serted; and it was but natural that all the people 
around should be upon their guard. The landscape 
was exceedingly beautiful, richly irrigated and finely 
wooded, while, to our great astonishment, the ground 
was so carefully cultivated that even manure had 
been put upon the fields in a regular manner, being 
spread over the ground to a great extent — the first ex- 
ample of such careful tillage that I had as yet observed 
in Central Africa, both among Mohammedans and 
pagans. The inhabitants had had so much leisure to 
make their escape, that they had left very little be- 
hind to satisfy the greediness of the enemy ; and we 
therefore continued our march without delay, in a 
north-easterly direction. This whole fertile district 
bears the name of Wuliya ; but I did not learn the 
peculiar name of this village. 
After a march of about four miles, we crossed 
another watercourse, at present only from ten to 
fifteen inches deep, and surrounded by beautiful pas- 
ture-grounds, which during part of the year are in- 
undated, and must then present the appearance of an 
extensive lake. This fresh green basin was adorned 
all around by luxuriant fig and "karage" trees, and 
