388 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIII. 
the Niger and in Kebbi than it is here ; but I never 
observed it in Bornu, nor in Bagfrmi. It requires but 
little experience to find out where the bulbous root 
grows, its indication above ground being a single 
blade about ten inches high; but it sometimes re- 
quires a good deal of labour to dig up the roots, as 
they are often about a foot or a foot and a half under 
ground. 
The soil gradually became worse; the trees were of 
a most uniform description, being all" mimosas, and 
all alike of indifferent growth, while only here and 
there a large leafless Adansonia stretched forth its 
gigantic arms as if bewailing the desolation spread 
around, where human beings had formerly subsisted : 
for the kiika or baobab likes the dwelling of the 
Negro, and he, on the other hand, can scarcely live 
without it ; for how could he season his simple food 
without the baobab's young fresh leaves, or sweeten 
and flavour his drink without the slightly acid pulp 
wherein the kernels are imbedded ? The herbage 
was reduced to single tufts of coarse grass four or 
five feet high ; and the path became abominable, not 
allowing a moment's inattention or thoughtful abs- 
traction, from fear of being thrown off the next 
minute into a swampy hole. 
Thus we went on cheerlessly, when about eleven 
o'clock the growth of the trees began to improve, 
and I observed a tree, which I did not remember to 
have seen before, of middle size, the foliage rather 
thin, and of light-green colour ; it is called " ka- 
