316 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXXI. 
the truth of the report, and it was with some anxiety 
that I thought of Mr. Yogel and his companions, 
and my own affairs in the country of B6rnu. 
Towards evening I wandered about a little, and found 
the town only scantily inhabited, although, as 1 have 
said before, the hamlets for manufacturing salt are 
almost deserted at this time of year, as no salt can be 
obtained as long as the bottom of the valley is covered 
with water. The situation of the place is of consider- 
able strength, being defended not only by the wall 
on the east side, but also by a swamp on the west side, 
at least during part of the year ; and it is this cir- 
cumstance which renders it more intelligible how the 
inhabitants have been able to defend themselves 
against the repeated attacks of the revolted Dendi. 
The greatest object of interest for me, and which 
would alone have rewarded a visit to the place, was a 
specimen of an oil-palm, Elais G.uineensis^ quite iso- 
lated, but, together with some palm bushes of the 
same species, serving to prove that this palm can 
thrive, even in the interior, in localities where the soil 
is impregnated with salt, as is here the case ; although 
in general it is assumed, and seems to be proved by 
experience, that it cannot grow at any great dis- 
tance from the ocean. 
We had taken up our quarters inside the town, in 
consequence of the statement of 'Abdii that we should 
be able to cross the valley at this spot, but to my great 
disappointment I learned that I should have to retrace 
my steps for some miles, as far as the spot where I had 
