Chap. XLTX. A NIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS. 359 
in keeping the wild beasts at a respectful distance 
during the remainder of our restless halt here. 
Early in the morning we arose in order to pursue 
our march, when, on removing our luggage, we found 
five scorpions under our leather bags ; they had, most 
probably, been attracted by the heat of our fires, as in 
general this animal is not so frequent after the ground 
has been wetted by the rains. As we proceeded, the 
forest became clearer, and my Shiiwa lad called my 
attention to the curious circumstance that the "dib," 
which is very frequent in these regions, always de- 
posits its excrements on the clean white spot of an 
ant-hill. The rain appeared to have been very con- 
siderable; and about a mile further on we passed a 
good sized pond, and a little further another of still 
larger size, producing all around a profusion of grass 
of the richest verdure. The soil here consisted of 
hard clay, and the vegetation was varied ; but gra- 
dually the forest was succeeded by extensive cultiva- 
tion, which announced our approach to a considerable 
place. 
I had been well aware myself that we had left the 
road to Jogode a long distance on our right; but I 
was greatly annoyed when I heard from the people 
who met us on the path that this village was Koko- 
roche, the very place which we had passed on our road 
from Mele to Bugoman. Convinced, therefore, that I 
should be obliged to touch once more at the former 
village, I had a sad foreboding that I should meet 
with some unpleasant occurrence, and that it might 
A A 4 
