186 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXVI. 
gawo (the locust-tree) being seen now and then, after 
which the duui-palm began to prevail entirely. The 
substratum of this district is evidently granite, which 
seems to lie very close to the surface, as about noon 
a large mass of this rock projected near our path. 
A little beyond this point the wilderness was agreeably 
interrupted by an opening with stubble-fields, about 
which were scattered small granaries, producing, at 
such a distance from any inhabited place and without 
guardians, an agreeable feeling of security. 
Half an hour afterwards we reached the stockade 
of Wuelleri, and proceeded directly to the house of 
the billama or mayor, as I wished to obtain here 
another guide, for it was only with the greatest diffi- 
culty that I succeeded in dragging on thus far my two 
archers, who had shown signs of the greatest anxiety 
during the latter part of the march, and had tried 
several times to turn their backs ; but further they 
would not go on any account, and I was therefore 
obliged to dismiss them, paying them three hundred 
shells. Unfortunately the billama was not at home, 
and his brother proved to be a morose and surly fellow. 
I wished to stay here only during the hot hours of 
the day, and to proceed in the evening after having 
watered the camels ; but he represented to me that 
the town of M ashen a was too distant to be reached 
before night, if I did not go on directly. As this 
was impossible, I resolved to stay here for the night, 
and pitched my tent in an open place in front of a 
