158 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXV. 
and wheat. Nay, even barley was seen, an almost un- 
heard of article in the whole of these regions. Mean- 
while, the deep channels made for irrigating these 
grounds showed a degree of industry which I had 
not seen for a long time. At present, of course, 
they were dry, the stubble of the wheat and barley 
alone remaining in the fields, irrigation being em- 
ployed only during the highest state of the river, 
when the water closely approaches these grounds. 
Here, where an open branch of the river was seen 
dividing into two smaller arms, we obtained a view 
of the town of Bamba, or rather of its date-palms, 
which waved their feathery foliage over a ^andy pro- 
montory. However, the sky was by no means clear. 
Soon we reached this spot, and I was highly delighted 
at seeing again some fine specimens of the date-palm, 
having scarcely beheld a single one since leaving 
Kano. The trees on the western side of the village 
are formed into groups, and in their neglected state, 
with the old dry leaves hanging down from under the 
fresh ones, formed a very picturesque spectacle. On 
the east side, also, where we were encamped, close 
to a magnificent tamarind, were two tall slender spe- 
cimens of this majestic tree ; but altogether there were 
scarcely more than forty full-grown date-palms. They 
are said to furnish a good kind of fruit, but, not 
having tasted them myself, I cannot give an opinion 
as to their quality. 
The village, at present, consists of about two 
