Chap. LXXX. DATE-PALMS. — MOHAMMED SA^LEH. 277 
Without an artificial alliance of the male and 
female, the fruit remains in a wild and embryo-like 
state. Thus keeping along the shore, we passed 
several islands in the river, first Juntu, and at a 
short distance from it Bisse-giingu ; further on Koma 
and Bossa, adorned with a fine growth of trees ; and 
about five miles from our halting-place, after we had 
passed a small hilly chain called Mari, the island of 
Neni, which is likewise richly timbered. This island 
is remarkable on account of its being the birthplace 
of the great Songhay conqueror, Hdj Mohammed 
A'skia, or Sikkia. 
Our march was the more interesting, as we were 
so fortunate as to be accompanied by the faki Mo- 
hammed Sdleh, whose acquaintance I had made during 
my stay near Garu. He was very communicative 
and social, and I regretted that I was not allowed to 
traverse in his company the whole territory of the 
independent Songhay in various directions. He 
dwelt particularly on the distinguishing character 
of Dargol, the principal seat of the free Songhay, es- 
pecially the Koi-ze, with the remains of the royal 
family of the Sikkia, of which several princes were 
still living. 
My companion also informed me of the attack 
which the natives of Gurma under the command of 
their chief Wentinne, in conjunction with the Son- 
ghay, had made a short time previously upon the 
emir of the Torode, or Torobe. He likewise gave me 
an account of the extensive dominion of Daiid, the 
T 3 
