INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 9 
rambled farther than usual, in a hot day, I brought on a return 
of my fever, and on the loth of September I was again confined 
to my bed. The fever, however, was not so violent as before ; 
and in the course of three weeks I was able, when the weather 
would permit, to renew my botanical excursions ; and when it 
rained, I amused myself with drawing plants, &c. in my cham- 
ber. The care and attention of Dr. Laidley contributed greatly 
to alleviate my sufferings ; his company and conversation be- 
guiled the tedious hours during that gloomy season, when the 
rain falls in torrents ; when suffocating heats oppress by day, 
and when the night is spent by the terrified traveller in listen- 
ing to the croaking of frogs, (of which the numbers are beyond 
imagination,) the shrill cry of the jackall, and the deep howling 
of the hycena ; a dismal concert, interrupted only by the roar 
of such tremendous thunder as no person can form a concep- 
tion of but those who have heard it. 
The country itself being an immense level,, and very gene- 
rally covered with woods, presents a tiresome and gloomy uni- 
formity to the eye ; but although nature has denied to the 
inhabitants the beauties of romantic landscapes, she has be- 
stowed on them, with a liberal hand, the more important bless- 
ings of fertility and abundance. A little attention to cultivation 
procures a sufficiency of corn ; the fields afford a rich pasturage 
for cattle ; and the natives are plentifully supplied with excel- 
lent, fish, both from the Gambia river and the WaUi creek. 
The grains which are chiefly cultivated are Indian corn, {zea 
mays) ; two kinds of holcus spicatus, called by the natives soono 
and sanio ; holcus niger, and holcus bicolor ; the former of which 
C 
