UNFEIENDLY NEGROES. 
187 
any, nor would they allow our encamping there. The tom-toms were 
beaten, and soon crowds of negroes were approaching. Deradau 
advised our continuing the march, unless Petherick would fight 
them. Anxious to avoid the slightest approach to a skirmish, we 
went again on our way. 
The sun was low down ere another halt was made, near the 
village of Lau. Our hungry people went supperless, and without 
a murmur, to rest, after a double watch had been set. The negroes 
surrounded us during the night. 
August \9th . — A pleasant morning. Marched at 7.30 along a 
lane marked with dry fences, enclosing dourra fields and tookuls on 
either side, with their little gardens. The inhabitants, mistrustful 
of us, made sudden appearances (like Jack-in-the-box) from the 
grain- fields : heads would be jerked up for a moment, and then as 
rapidly disappear. At nine a.m. a halt made, still in the straggling 
village of Lau. Petherick believes that there are upwards of two 
thousand inhabitants here, the tookuls being placed very wide apart, 
with fields of dourra and sesame, an oil-producing grain, surround- 
ing them. Leaving this cultivated portion of the soil, we reached 
bush, with winding paths and great pools of water. This did not 
last long, and we soon came to tilled and cultivated ground again. 
Dismounted and walked on a trodden pathway between a wall of 
golden dourra some twelve feet high, of which the horses, the only 
robbers, availed themselves. 
At half-past nine a.m. halted where fine trees afforded pleasant 
shadow. The hard fruit of these trees the negroes convert into 
snuff-boxes, and call it the Snuff-box Tree.^^ I made a tiny 
sketch of the fruit whilst enjoying the shade. 
I was not sorry at all to hear that one of our few bullocks had 
