458 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LII. 
one field as high as five feet, and the seed just coming 
out, while in another field, close by, the young crop 
was only shooting out of the ground. This was in 
consequence of no rain having fallen in the beginning 
of the season for nearly a month, a circumstance 
which had deterred many people from confiding their 
seed to the ground. Further on, there was much 
cultivation of beans. 
Having now no necessity for laying down the 
path, with which I was sufficiently acquainted, I 
could surrender myself entirely to the general im- 
pression of the landscape, the whole aspect of the 
country being greatly changed. Beyond the Fellata 
village which I have mentioned on my outward jour- 
ney, we had to cross an extensive sheet of water, and 
the ground was often very difficult to pass with my 
camel ; so that we were full of anxiety with regard to 
the swampy country of Log6n. Indeed the people who 
met us on the road did not fail to warn us that this 
was not the right animal for this season of the year ; 
and there is no doubt that pack-oxen, on account 
of their sure-footedness, have a great advantage in 
travelling during this part of the year, though they 
are difficult to get across the rivers. 
We arrived at the well-known village of Bakada 
just in time to escape a heavy tempest, which con- 
tinued with slight interruption the whole of the after- 
noon; but not finding my former host at home, I 
took possession of his hut on my own responsibilit}^ 
and I afterwards calmed the anger of my good old 
