244 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
CHAr. XLV. 
bear, especially those numberless creeks, swamps, and 
rivers which intersect this country in all directions. 
The stranger who intrudes upon the natives in this 
hostile manner is scarcely able to make out a few dry 
names of the principal dwelling-places, and, being 
placed under such disadvantageous circumstances, is 
at least justified in speaking more emphatically of 
the endless misery into which the finest and most 
populous regions of this continent are plunged by 
these slave-hunting expeditions of their merciless Mo- 
hammedan neighbours. This fertile district, which 
is inclosed by the river of Logon on the east, and by 
the narrow channel-like watercourse on the west side, 
seems to be that very dominion of " Fuss," the power 
of which, as I have related before, was greatly dreaded 
by our friends. 
This was the coolest day we had as yet experienced 
on our expedition, the thermometer, in the cool shade 
of a tree, at half-past one o'clock in the afternoon in- 
dicating only 84°. This was probably attributable to 
the fresh northerly breeze which sprung up about 
noon ; for during the night it was not so cold as we 
felt it afterwards, the thermometer during this time 
indicating, at sunrise, between 56° and 59°, and at 
sunset between 74° and 77°. 
Wednesday ^ e nVd ^ e a l° n g er march than usual, while 
January i4th. ^he character of the country changed en- 
tirely, and not, as it seemed, to its advantage; for in- 
stead of a fertile landscape, clothed with rich verdure, 
we entered upon bleak alluvial plains, scantily over- 
