FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO 
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despond ; but I trust things are now at the worst. Our place of 
halting was on the banks of a creek branching from the lake, very 
low and wet. My consolation is, that Eello is not at a great 
distance from us, and lias sent to-day to ask after my health, and 
how I stood the fatigues of the journey. 
Sunday, 15th. — Morning clear. At 5. 45 left our encampment, 
and at 9 arrived at a spot in the swampy wood where a stream of 
water was running through it. We had to cross this stream, which 
was about twenty yards in width, the banks steep, and water deep, 
appearing as if it had been artificially cut for a canal. We crossed 
it without accident, though many of the party, with their camels, 
bullocks, horses, and baggage, crowding together, were seen sticking 
in groups in the boggy swamp. I had not gone many paces on the 
other side before my horse sunk to the belly ; and as I did not im- 
mediately dismount, thinking to ride him through, I got severely 
hurt on the pommel of the saddle, by his plunging. At last I got 
off, put the saddle on my head, and got him to a firmer spot under 
a tree ; close to which, I found my servants endeavouring to drag 
the bullock out of the place where he also had sunk. I sat as a 
guard over my baggage; but all the exertions of my people could 
not get the poor ox out, and I called them oft’ to rest, sending one 
to the camp for assistance. 
In the mean time, some of the people of Zamfra, coming post 
without loads or arms, were on their way to assist their friends, 
who were sticking in the mud, and to drag the governor’s baggage 
out of the swamp. I asked them, in a good-natured way, to lend a 
hand to help out my bullock, that was still sticking in the bog. 
“Well,” say they, “Christian, give us that meat you have got in 
your dish, and we will assist you.” “ Take it,” said I, “my lads ;” and 
giving them the sheep’s heart, which was boiled and covered with 
fat, they divided it among them ; and going to the spot where the 
unfortunate bullock was, had him out in an instant. 
After letting the bullock breathe a little, we started again, but 
