294 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XL VII. 
are provided with holes through which ropes are 
passed, overlaid with bands of reed, and are tightly 
fastened upon them by smaller ropes, which are again 
passed through small holes stuffed with grass. Their 
elevated prow seems to indicate the shallowness of the 
water as well as the vehemence of the current which 
in certain seasons of the year sweeps down the river, 
and which I experienced on my return when it was 
full. At present, the water was rather shallow, and 
several sand banks were to be seen. My principal 
attention was attracted by the fishing boats, which 
were furnished with large nets suspended from the 
poop by two immensely long poles, called " the two 
hands," " musko ndi," by the Kaniiri people, and 
" semi" by the people of Logon. 
We then continued along the shore, which becomes 
gradually more and more compressed between the 
wall and the river. Where the latter approaches 
nearest the wall there are corn-fields, which are 
continually irrigated from the river. The stalks of 
the corn at present were \\ foot high. As I have 
observed in another place, wheat has only recently 
been introduced into Negroland, and wherever a 
little is grown it is only known by the Arabic name 
" el kameh." The generality of the inhabitants do 
not relish it, but it is esteemed a princely food. 
Of course, corn is also dearer where it does not grow 
spontaneously, the tropical rains being too powerful 
for the tender plant, so that it can only be grown in 
the dry or rather the cold season, near the rivers or 
swamps, by artificial irrigation. 
