f 
406 BRIDGE OVER THE TANKISSO. 
about three hundred^ is situated in a well cultivated plain, 
covered with ces, nedes, bombaces^ baobabs, and mimosas. 
Since we left the village of Fara, yams and rice had become 
very rare. They are but little cultivated, owing, no doubt^ 
to the dryness of the ground ; for rains are not so common 
in this direction as further to the south. Millet of both 
kinds and maize are, however, cultivated here ; the former in 
great abundance. 
On the 2nd of February, at six o'clock, we left Serasso, 
and proceeded eastward, in order to cross a bridge at a short 
distance from the village. This bridge is built, like that of 
Cambaya, across the Tankisso, except that it is covered with 
straw, and then with a layer of earth. It had steps on each 
side, a precaution which 1 had not hitherto seen among the 
negroes. This bridge is more convenient than any other I 
saw in the interior. At its entrance were stationed two'ne- 
groes, who were sitting beside a little fire, though the weather 
was any thing but cold. The heat here is nearly the same as 
at the Senegal ; but it varies a little. The two negroes re- 
ceived the passage-duties : they demanded twenty cowries 
for each load of colats. The Mandingoes would have pre- 
ferred paying double the amount in kind ; for they had not 
much money. The men and women passed gratis. We 
were delaj^ed for a considerable time by the stubbornness of 
the asses ; the negroes had infinite trouble in getting them 
across ; two were carried as far as the middle of the bridge, 
and then they darted off at full gallop. The natives of the 
country are not required to pay passage-duty ; this contribu- 
tion is only demanded from foreigners. I asked several per- 
sons the name of the stream we had just crossed. They told me 
it was called Koua, a name which I know is common to all 
streams. We advanced four miles E. N. E., across a level 
plain, covered with large trees; the soil was composed of 
hard grey sand, and here and there I perceived some blocks 
of black granite. 
