296* MAURACE, 
surrounding country, which is very well cultivated, is inun- 
dated and covered with nedes and ces ; we saw the rice in 
flag with its head just above the water. After proceeding 
for four miles in this direction, mid-leg in water, we 
halted at a neat village, where, for a few strings of beads, 
we bought milk and nede flour which we mixed with it for 
our dinner ; after which we proceeded two miles further 
to the south. We came again to the Sarano, which we had 
just crossed ; at some little distance from its right bank is a 
range of hills of no great height, formed of earth and red 
porous rock. In this part the width of the river is consider- 
able, and its course from south to north. We continued in 
the same direction for four miles. I perceived some fine 
fields of rice in ear, and a number of young herdsmen tend- 
ing their cattle ; they had flageolets of bamboo, with which 
they produced very harmonious sounds. Proceeding along 
the bank of the river, we reached Maurace a little before 
sun-set ; a hut was assigned to us, and the hospitable chief 
sent up a supper of foigne, with an unpleasant dish of herbs 
without salt. 
On the 20th of July, at eight in the morning, we bade 
adieu to our host ; we travelled eleven miles to the S. E. 
Throughout the whole country, which is very open, are small 
hamlets of ten or twelve houses, shaded by nedes and ces ; 
the surrounding land is well cultivated, and I saw some fine 
fields of cotton ; upon the whole, less attention is paid to 
the cultivation of that article in these parts, than to any 
other ; they sow broad- cast, and the plants stand so close 
together, that they have not room to grow. About half past 
one, we halted under the shade of some nedes, near a hamlet, 
the inhabitants of which came to sell us milk and the fruit 
of the nede, which we ate in haste, and then continued our 
route to the S. S. E. for three miles, over a gravelly soil, 
on which it was very painful walking, for my feet were ex- 
tremely sore. We proceeded through a plain diversified by 
