Chap. XL VI. SCARCITY OF WATER. 
269 
supply, the quality of which was anything but 
agreeable. This scarcity of water, however, seemed 
to arise only from the laziness of the inhabitants ; for 
the wells are not more than three fathoms deep, 
and the floods of the lake themselves occasionally 
approach so near that it has been found necessary to 
protect the village on its north side by a dyke. Here 
we passed the heat of the day in the shade of a 
k6rna-tree, the fruit of which, being just ripe, in 
want of some better indulgence, we did not despise. 
I was greatly surprised to observe here that salt is 
obtained by burning the dung of cattle. It is indeed 
very remarkable how the poorer people in Negroland 
endeavour to supply their want of this article, which 
in every stage of society has become such an essential 
ingredient of common diet. 
About half an hour after starting in the afternoon, 
we reached a considerable watercourse, which, bor- 
dered by fine spreading trees, had a very pleasant ap- 
pearance. It is called Komadugu I'mbulu, or Mbulu. 
This watercourse was asserted by my companion Kago 
to be entirely distinct from the Yalowe, or komadugu 
of Dikowa; and from the experience I had on my 
return-journey I think he was correct. The banks of 
the watercourse were twelve feet high ; its breadth 
was from twenty to twenty-five yards ; but the 
depth of the water was only a foot and a half. No 
current was then perceptible. The trees of the forest, 
after we left this watercourse, were of a greater 
variety, but all of rather stunted growth. We ob- 
