TRAVELS IN THE 
a sandy country, covered chiefly with the asclepiasgigantea, 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, induced 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 Sama- 
ming-koos. 
Next morning (March 4th) we set out for Sampaka ; which 
place we reached about two o'clock. On the road we observed 
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 obliged 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 
