NATIVE HUTS. 
103 
in the hot season, when sickness breaks out. ’While we 
were there, the town was completely surrounded by 
water, and the land for miles, in all directions, was 
completely inundated. Dr. Stanger, on wading two 
miles from the main stream, (liere about a mile in 
breadth,) was still up to his middle in water, when he 
reached a shea butter-tree, which he found to be not 
very lofty, but umbrageous. The mortality among 
the natives after the rains is very great. In many parts 
of the town the stench is horrible. The Nnfi is the 
prevailing language, though many others are spoken, 
among which may be mentioned Yariba, Ilaussa, 
Filatah, Bgarra and Bornii. People from these 
counti’ies have joined the Filatahs, some from choice, 
but the greater part from coercion. 
’With regard to the religion of the Egga people, it 
seems to differ little from that of those lower down 
the river; the same mixture of Paganism and Mo- 
hamedism exists; but there are fewer charms and 
idols than in the countries below Iddah. In the 
mallam’s house at Egga, tliere were several books and 
scraps of leaves, all well w'ritten in Arabic, but he 
could not read them himself. Even the few who could 
read them, did not understand them. 
The shea butter-tree {Bassia Barlcia), abounds in 
this neighbourhood, and the butter is extensively 
made. A quantity in a large earthen pot, containing 
about sixteen pounds, was purchased in the market 
for cowries to the amount of two shillings. Specimens 
