Chap. XXXII. PILGRIM TRADERS. 
367 
east more for the purposes of trade than for his 
own use. He was mounted on a camel, but had also 
a pack-ox laden with salt, which he had been told he 
might dispose of to great advantage in A'damawa. 
Thus pilgrims are always trading in these countries. 
But this poor man was not very successful; for his 
books were partly spoiled in crossing the river Be- 
nuwe, and his camel died during the rainy season in 
A'damawa. However, he thence continued his journey 
homewards, while his four companions returned east- 
ward and met with me once more in Logon, and the 
last time on the banks of the Shari. Two of them 
were mounted on fine asses, which they had brought 
with them from Dar-Fiir. 
Our way led us through a populous and fertile 
country, first along the meandering course of the ko- 
madugu, which was here lined with ngabbore or 
ficus, and with the birgim or dina (as it is called in 
Hausa), a tree attaining a height of from thirty to 
forty feet, but not spreading wide, with leaves of 
a darkish green, and fruit like a small plum, but 
less soft, and of a black colour, though it was 
not yet ripe. Here I was greeted by the cheerful 
sight of the first corn-crop of the season, which I 
had yet seen — having lately sprung up, and adorn- 
ing the fields with its lively fresh green. Kain had 
been very copious hereabouts ; and several large pools 
were formed along the komadugu, in which the boys 
of the neighbouring villages were catching small fish 
three or four inches long, while in other places the 
