Chap. XXXIII. SHA'MO DISTRICT. 
377 
and there, the traces of former cultivation and the 
mouldering remains of huts are to be seen. Accord- 
ing to Billama, as late as a few years ago a large 
portion of this district was inhabited by Kaniiri and 
Gamerghu, the latter, most probably, having taken 
possession of the lands abandoned by the Marghi; 
but 'Ali Dendal, who has ruled it for Abu Bakr, the 
son of 'Omar, a youth without intelligence, and only 
anxious to make the most of his province, has ruined it 
by his rapacity : he, however, was soon to be ruined 
himself. There was a small spot where the forest had 
been cleared away for cultivation, — a proof that the 
natives, if they were only humanely treated by the 
government, would not be wanting in exertion. 
The forest was partly filled up by a dense jungle 
of reed-grass, of such a height as to cover horse and 
rider. The soil is of a black, boggy, argillaceous 
nature, and full of holes, which make the passage 
through this tract extremely difficult in the latter 
part of the rainy season. My companions also drew 
my attention to the bee-hives underground, from 
which a peculiar kind of honey is obtained, which I 
shall repeatedly have occasion to mention in the 
course of my narrative. 
After three hours' march through this wild and 
unpleasant country, we reached a small village called 
Yerimari, which, according to Billama, had formerly 
been of much greater size ; at present it is inhabited by 
a few Marghi Mohammedan proselytes. There being 
only one hut in the yard assigned to us, I preferred 
