356 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XLIX. 
were, however, evident traces that during the rainy 
season this dry forest is occasionally changed into an 
extensive swamp, and frequented by herds of giraffes 
and other wild beasts. At first the forest was clear ; 
but as we proceeded it became enlivened and inter- 
woven by a profusion of creeping plants called " sella " 
by the Arab inhabitants of this country, but "ghelaf " 
in the dialect of the western Arabs. In many spots a 
peculiar kind of reed was seen, called " hal " by the 
Shiiwa, who make from it writing-pens; and here 
and there fresh tufts of grass, called forth by the pro- 
ductive power of the rains, were springing up. It is 
this young succulent herbage which especially attracts 
the rhinoceros. Desolate as this wilderness was at 
present, there were evident signs that at times it 
becomes the scene of a considerable degree of human 
industry ; and besides sesamum, even fields of indigo 
were seen. 
After a march of about thirteen miles, we reached 
a hamlet which was evidently identical with the 
village Marga, with regard to which our informants 
had not been sure whether we should find inhabitants 
there or not. We entered it ; but not a single human 
being was to be seen, it was lifeless, deserted, and half 
in ruins. Nevertheless there were some houses which 
evidently contained property, though, the doors not 
being sufficiently secured, its safety was left to the 
honesty of the passers-by. 
Here the path divided, and it was apparent that, in 
order to prosecute my journey by way of Jogode, we 
