INTERIOR OF AFRICA. ^ 5I 
river, which is here rapid and rocky. The natives were em- 
ployed in fishing in various ways. The large fish were taken 
in long baskets made of split cane, and placed in a strong cur- 
rent, which was created by walls of stone built across the stream, 
certain open places being left, through which the water rushed 
with great force. Some of these baskets were more than 20 feet 
long, and when once the fish had entered one of them, the force 
of the stream prevented it from returning. The small fish were 
taken in great numbers in hand-nets, which the natives weave 
of cotton, and use with great dexterity. The fish last men- 
tioned are about the size of sprats, and are prepared for sale in 
different ways ; the most common is by pounding them entire 
as they come from the stream, in a wooden mortar, and expos- 
ing them to dry in the sun, in large lumps, like sugar loaves. It 
may be supposed that the smell is not very agreeable ; but in 
the Moorish countries to the north of the Senegal, where fish is 
scarcely known, this preparation is esteemed as a luxury, and 
sold to considerable advantage. The manner of using it by the 
natives is, by dissolving a piece of this black loaf in boiling 
water, and mixing it with their kouskous. 
,1 thought it very singular, at this season of the year, to find 
the banks of the Faleme every where covered with large and 
beautiful fields of corn ; but on examination I found it was not 
the, same species of grain as is commonly cultivated on the 
Gambia ; it is called by the natives Manio ; and grows in the 
dry season, is very prolific, and is reaped in the month of Ja- 
nuary. It is the same which, from the depending position of 
the ear, is called by botanical writers holms cernuus, 
H 2 
