276 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXX. 
I should have liked very much to visit the town of 
Sinder, but not feeling well, and for other reasons, 
I thought it more prudent to remain where I was ; 
for, besides the fact that the governor himself is 
only in a certain degree dependent on the ruler of Say, 
there were here a good many Tawarek roving about, 
which rendered it not advisable for me to separate 
from my luggage ; I therefore gave a small present to 
my companions, which they were to offer to the 
governor in my name. In consequence of this they 
were well received ; and the governor himself came to 
meet them half-way between the towns of Smder and 
Garii, and behaved very friendly to them. 
Sunday, After a rainy night, we left this rich and 
July 23rd. populous district, iu order to pursue our 
journey to Say. Keeping close along the bank of 
the river, our attention was soon attracted by some 
young palm bushes covered with fruit, which caused 
a long dispute between my people and the followers 
of the Sheikh, part of them asserting that it was the 
oil-palm, while others affirmed it to be the date- 
palm. This latter opinion appeared the correct one, 
considering that the oil-palm does not grow at 
any distance from salt water; for on our whole 
journey through the interior, we had only met with 
it in the valley of Fogha, which contains a great 
quantity of salt. This opinion was confirmed by fur- 
ther observation, when we discovered the male and 
female seeds, which wanted nothing but the civilis- 
ing influence of man in order to produce good fruit. 
