146 
TKAVELS IN AFRICA. CnAr. LXXV. 
now begun to dry up, and where we observed the 
first traces of the wild hog that I had hitherto seen 
along this part of the Niger. After we had left 
this swamp behind us, the river exhibited its truly 
magnificent character, and we proceeded close along 
the border of its limpid waters, on a beautiful sandy 
beach, our left being shut in by high sandy downs, 
richly clad with diim -palms and tagelalet. 
It was here, for the first time, that I observed the 
traces of the zangway. This animal appears to be 
quite distinct from the crocodile, and perhaps resem- 
bles the American igwana. It is much smaller than 
the crocodile ; and its footprint indicated a much 
broader foot, the toes being apparently connected by a 
continuous membrane. Unfortunately I never ob- 
tained a sight of the animal itself, but only observed 
its footprints in the sand : it attains, as it seems, only 
to the length of from six to eight feet. 
The well-defined character of the river, however, did 
not last long, and again there succeeded the low 
swampy shore, which occasionally obliged us to keep 
at a greater distance from the main trunk, while the 
vegetation in general was abundant. The predomi- 
nant tree in this district, also, was the siwdk, or 
Capparis^ which, with its small berries, which were 
just ripening, afforded us occasionally a slight refresh- 
ment. They can, however, only be taken in small 
quantities, as they have a very strong taste, like 
pepper, and on this account are much pleasanter 
when the}^ are dried, in which state they afford a not 
