INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 45 
used in lieu of hops, the name of which I have forgot ; but the 
corn which yields the wort, is the holcus spicatus of botanists. 
Early in the morning (the 12th) I found that one of the ele- 
phant hunters had absconded with the money he had received 
from me in part of wages ; and in order to prevent the other 
two from following his example, I made them instantly fill 
their calabashes (or gourds) with water, and as the sun rose I 
entered the Wilderness that separates the kingdoms of Woolli 
and Bondou. 
We had not travelled more than a mile before my attendants 
insisted on stopping, that they might prepare a saphie, or 
charm, to insure us a safe journey. This was done by mutter- 
ing a few sentences, and spitting upon a stone, which was 
thrown before us on the road. The same ceremony was re- 
peated three times, after which the Negroes proceeded with the 
greatest confidence ; every one being firmly persuaded that 
the stone (like the scape goat) had carried with it every thing 
that could induce superior powers to visit us with misfortune. 
We continued our journey without stopping any more until 
noon, when we came to a large tree, called by the natives 
Neema Taba. It had a very singular appearance, being deco- 
rated with innumerable rags or scraps of cloth, which persons 
travelling across the Wilderness had, at different times, tied to 
the branches ; probably, at first, to inform the traveller that 
water was to be found near it ; but the custom has been so 
greatly sanctioned by time, that nobody now presumes to pass 
without hanging up something. I followed the example, and 
suspended a handsome piece of cloth on one of the boughs, and 
G2 
