222 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
of manure. I imagined that the purport of so much smoke was 
to drive away the myriads of flies infesting such places,, to the 
torment of man and beast ; but Atchwack^ admitting that such was 
an advantage, said the real purpose was to convert the dung into 
ashes; which, spread on the usually damp ground, afibrded excellent 
bedding for man and beast, and by rubbing it well on their own 
bodies, it kept them free from colds and rheumatism. 
^September 22nd . — OflP at seven a.m., and in ten minutes were 
following a, narrow track through a continuation of yesterday^s 
thick forest. 
Two halts of a few moments^ duration, when an eager look-out 
was kept for the tsetse or man, several specimens of which were 
netted ; they were precisely similar to the description and sketch 
given by Dr. Livingstone, but perhaps a trifle smaller. When 
marching not a fly was seen. At eleven a.m. we emerged from 
the bush and traversed a few dourra and millet-flelds, belonging 
to a small hamlet called Timalor. 
The height of the corn-stalks was considerable, and the heavy 
umdpe heads of grain waved high above us as we rode through 
them. Forest, high grass, and water again succeeded for the space 
of half an hour; and then emerging on a plain studded with 
bushes, underwood, and a few fine trees, the long-talked of station, 
Adael, was pointed out in the distance. And now, though so near 
the desired haven, a halt took place : my wife was exhausted ; lift- 
ing her from the saddle, I carried her to repose for awhile beneath 
the shade of a far-spreading tree, and here we waited the stragglers 
of our party. 
Some men of Poncet^s, engaged herding their cattle, came up to 
us, and the news of our arrival was quickly known through the 
