Ii6 TRAVELS IN THE 
a sandy country, covered with asclepias gigantica, until mid -day, 
when we came to a number of deserted huts ; and seeing some 
appearances of water at a little distance, I sent the boy to fill 
a soofroo ; but as he was examining the place for water, the 
roaring of a lion, that was probably on the same pursuit, in- 
duced the frightened boy to return in haste, and we submitted 
patiently to the disappointment. In the afternoon we reached 
a town inhabited chiefly by Foulahs, called Samamingkoos. 
Next morning (March 4th) we set out for Sampaka ; which 
place we reached about two o'clock. On the road we observ- 
ed immense quantities of locusts : the trees were quite black 
with them. These insects devour every vegetable that comes in 
their way, and in a short time completely strip a tree of its 
leaves. The noise of their excrement falling upon the leaves 
and withered grass, very much resembles a shower of rain. 
When a tree is shaken or struck, it is astonishing to see what 
a cloud of them will fly off. In their flight they yield to the 
current of the wind, which at this season of the year is always 
from the N. E. Should the wind shift, it is difficult to conceive 
where they could collect food, as the whole of their course was 
marked with desolation. ' 
Sampaka is a large town, and when the Moors and Bambar- 
rans were at war, was thrice attacked by the former ; but they 
were driven off with great loss, though the King of Bambarra 
was afterwards obhged to give up this, and all the other towns 
as far as Goomba, in order to obtain a peace. Here I lodged 
at the house of a Negro who practised the art of making gun- 
powder. He shewed me a bag of nitre, very white, but the 
