444 
ISLAND OF JENNE. 
of five feet. It is thorny, the branches are slender and 
the pod is hairy ; it contracts its leaves on being touched. 
On leaving the banks of the Dhioliba, we proceeded 
six miles W. N. W. We crossed a dry marsh, on vrhich 
there was not a single tree to shade us. On this marsh 
rice is grown during the inundations. The ground con- 
sists of grey argillaceous earth, mixed with a good deal 
of sand and numerous veins of red clay, like that which I 
had seen on the banks of the Dhioliba. I observed several 
slaves who were engaged in agricultural labour. They 
used large hoes like those employed in the Wassoulo. 
A little before we reached the island of Jenn^, the 
soil changed to a hard sand, over which the inundation 
does not appear to extend. Some shrubs were growing 
upon it. 
About half past two we arrived on the bank of a se- 
condary branch of the Dhioliba, which comes from the 
north in this part, and forms the island on which is si- 
tuated the town of Jenne. In fording it the water was up 
to our waists. Its current is very rapid, and its bed is 
wide and sandy. We saw a great number of traders 
crossing the water. They were coming from Jenne and 
returning to Lheir respective countries with merchandise. 
Having crossed this branch of the river, I thought 
myself on the island of Jenne, but, before we could reach 
the town, I found that we had to cross a second branch 
as deep as the other. After crossing the first branch we 
found ourselves at the extremity of a large island, separated 
by this marigot, and formed by an arm of the river, which 
branches off at Sego and rejoins it at Isaca, a village si- 
tuated at the distance of a day and a half s journey from 
Cougalia. Within this large island is situated the island 
of Jenne, which is surrounded by a secondary arm of the 
river. I saw in the port, many large canoes : some afloat 
waiting for their cargoes and others ashore, to undergo 
