Chap. LXXV. GIGANTIC " RETEM." 
143 
missioned to convey the parcel to Timbuktu was 
slain by the Goberdwa, or Mariaddwa, on the road 
between Gando and Say, at a moment when the 
packet was by accident left in the hands of a com- 
panion of his, who, pursuing his route in safety, took 
it to A'zawad. But the death of the principal bearer 
of the letters addressed to me, in alh probability, 
contributed not a little to confirm the rumour of my- 
self having been slain near Maradi. However, at 
that time, and even much later, I had no idea that 
such rumours were current in the quarter which 1 
had left. 
It was with a very pleasant feeling that I Thursday, 
at length found myself in the company of my 
noble host, again pursuing my journey eastward; and 
I enjoyed the peculiar features of the country with 
tolerable ease and comfort. The varied composition 
of our troop, among whom there were several well 
disposed friends, afforded also much relief. 
The country was the same that I had already tra- 
versed ; but it presented some new features, as we 
followed another path. I was principally struck with 
the enormous size of the " retem," or broom, which 
here assumed the proportions of considerable trees of 
more than twenty feet in height, while the siwak, or 
Capparis sodata^ was in great abundance. 
Having rested, after a march of about ten miles, 
in a dense part of the forest, which is said to be fre- 
quented by lions, we pursued our march in the 
afternoon ; when, proceeding along the swampy creek 
