268 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XL VI. 
" karaga tsilim " giving way to the " dirride," or 
clear forest, and signs of cultivation were seen. Here 
I observed that the clayey soil, or " ange," was inter- 
sected by small ridges, in order to retain the water, 
during the rainy season, for the cultivation of the 
masakuwa. Cotton also seemed to be cultivated to 
some extent. In this district too the villages con- 
tained a mixed population of Shiiwa and Kaniiri. 
The village Gujari, which we passed further on, was 
distinguished by an extensive pottery. Here the 
road was enlivened by a numerous caravan of pack- 
oxen laden with grain, on their way to Dikowa, the 
town described on my expedition to the Miisgu 
country ; for, as I have there stated, the cultivation of 
that place is almost entirely limited to cotton, while 
all the corn which is required for the consumption of 
the inhabitants is imported. The cotton is not carried 
by beasts of burden, but on the heads of the natives ; 
and a little further on we met a numerous train of 
these people, whose appearance imparted some idea of 
industry. Passing on our road many patches of that 
black boggy soil, called " firki" or " ange," which I 
have described on a former occasion, we reached the 
small village of Hokkum at about half-past eight in 
the morning. 
We had expressly chosen this road in order to 
avoid the wells of bitter water in the village Jemage, 
which lies on the southern road ; but here we fared 
worse, for there was no water at all in the village, 
and we had to send to a great distance to get a small 
