[Sidenote: Tuesday, August 29th.]
Having arranged my luggage at an early hour, and waited some time for my
people to get ready, I set out. Winding down the slope of the hill on
which Sókoto is situated, and which was now covered with crops, we
reached the border of the stream, which, from having been an
insignificant brook at the time of my first arrival in the place, was
now changed into a powerful torrent, about 200 yards broad, and rushing
along with the most impetuous violence, undermining the banks, and
leaving in its course small patches of grassy islands, which made the
passage extremely difficult. The view opposite will give an idea of the
scenery. Having at length crossed this stream in frail barks, dragging
our horses and beasts of burden alongside of them, we had to wait a good
while on the opposite shore till the camels sent from Sókoto came to
meet us, when we proceeded about eight miles, and having been caught in
a heavy shower, took up our quarters in Áchi-da-láfia, a large
straggling farming village. Here I felt extremely weak and exhausted, my
case assuming more distinctly the character of dysentery.
[Sidenote: Wednesday, August 30th.]
After an agreeable march of about six miles, it being a fine clear day,
we reached Wurnó, the residence of ʿAlíyu. Here we were lodged in our
old quarters, where, however, the frail building of the hut had
disappeared, and nothing remained but the clay house. I was received by
the court of the emír El Múmenín also with great kindness, and, curious
as it may appear to Europeans, my hostile relation with the Fúlbe of
Hamda-Alláhi seemed only to have increased my esteem in the eyes of
these people. ʿAlíyu had even heard of the ungenerous conduct of the
Sheikh el Bakáy’s younger brother towards me; and while he greatly
praised the straightforward behaviour of the former he did not fail to
reproach Sídi Álawáte with meanness. He treated me very hospitably,
although I was not able to enjoy greatly the more luxurious kind of food
which was here offered to me, for luxurious it seemed after my poor diet
in the famished and distracted region near the Niger. It was only by the
strictest diet, especially by keeping to sour milk, together with
repose, that I succeeded, after a great deal of suffering, in keeping
under the disease. However, my recovery in the beginning was only
temporary, and on the 13th of the following month dysentery broke out
with considerable violence, and caused me a total loss of strength; but,
after a severe crisis, it was overcome by the use of Dover’s powders,
although even then a simple diet was the most effectual remedy, my food
consisting of nothing but pounded rice, mixed with curdled milk, and the
seeds of the _Mimosa Nilotica_. At length, on the 22nd of September, I
was again enabled to move about a little on horseback, and from that day
forward, my health continued to improve.
Finding that my segífa excluded every draught of air, I built myself a
shed of matting in front of the door of the clay house, where I spent my
time pleasantly enough, until the great humidity of the ground, in
consequence of the rains that began to fall, drove me back into my hall.
The whole breadth of the valley to the very foot of the rocky border was
now under water to a considerable depth, and covered with water-lilies.
Scarcely a small footpath remained. A great deal of rice was to be seen
in the low ground, while the cultivation on the higher ground consisted
entirely of sorghum. But the richness of the country around was scarcely
of any avail, for greater insecurity prevailed than on my former visit,
even at the distance of a few miles from the capital. A small host of
the enemy had succeeded in carrying into slavery from a distance of less
than ten miles from the capital, a considerable number of people and
cattle.[47] Another predatory expedition of the Búgaje from Alakkos, a
few days later, drove away two herds of cattle from the very village of
Giyáwa; and on the 2nd of October a small foray of Tagáma plundered the
village of Saláme together with a neighbouring hamlet, carrying away a
good number of people.
A great dearth of provisions prevailed, not only with regard to meat,
but even corn, which was the more surprising to us, as we had been
accustomed in Timbúktu to very low prices, although provisions are there
brought from so great a distance. We were able in that town to buy a
sheep for 500 or 600 kurdí, but we could here find none under 3000, the
best fetching as much as 5000; and as for corn, the suníye, which we
bought in Timbúktu for 3000 to 4000, we should have been glad to buy
here with 10,000, if such large quantities had been brought into the
market at all. It was, besides, extremely difficult for me to find
shells. I was thus obliged to sell five dollars for 11,000 shells, while
in Timbúktu they would have fetched 15,000. I also sold the corals which
I had left at a low price, in order to be enabled to keep up my
establishment. Cotton strips, which are liked better in the country
places, were still dearer in proportion than shells.
The horse which I rode myself being incapable of any further exertion,
and my camels having either died or become totally exhausted, I was thus
thrown, much against my inclination, upon the generosity of the prince,
and in order to stimulate his good will, besides the present which I
offered to him at my first interview, I gave him in a second audience
ten dollars, silver being always an article much esteemed by these
people. I had made it a point of reserving the last bernús I possessed
for the governor of Kanó, who, in the present state of anarchy into
which Bórnu seemed to be plunged, might be a person of great importance
to me. But, nevertheless, I could not induce this not very high-spirited
and noble-minded prince to make a sacrifice of a handsome horse, and he
gave me an animal which, although it did not prove to be a bad
travelling horse, was of small size, had a very bad walk, was not able
to gallop at all, and altogether, was more like an ass than a horse.
Besides a horse, ʿAlíyu was kind enough to send me a large loaf of
English sugar,—a rather uncommon article in this country. I felt very
grateful for this present, as I was entirely destitute of sugar.
I had a good deal of trouble with my companions, who did not like to
leave this place so soon as it was my intention to do. This extended not
only to the messengers of the Sheikh, all of whom suffered a great deal
from illness, but still more to my headman, ʿAlí el Ágeren, whom I would
have sent away long before if I had been able to pay him off; for this
man, who found it very convenient to trade at my expense, while he had
nothing to do except to receive a good salary, entered into all sorts of
intrigues to keep me in this place, just as he had done in Timbúktu.
Notwithstanding the reiterated delays, I succeeded in fixing my
departure for the 7th October, and as I afterwards convinced myself from
my own experience, the state of the roads which we had to cross would
scarcely have allowed us to commence our journey before that time; but
the rainy season was now almost over, and while the noxious insect
called tumúnragaye, which towards the end of the rainy season infests
the whole ground, increased in numbers, the quantity of rain decreased.
Being now rather better and feeling stronger, I began again to move
about a little on horseback, although the swampy character of the valley
which surrounds Wurnó on almost every side, together with the rocky
character of the remaining part of the district, prevented me from
making long excursions.
During this my second stay in the capital of this extensive empire, I
had again full opportunity of observing the extreme weakness and want of
energy which prevails in its very centre; although I could not but
acknowledge the feeling of justice which animates the ruler himself,
notwithstanding his want of spirit. In proof of this I may relate that
being informed one day that five young sons of his had committed acts of
injustice in the market, he became greatly enraged, and immediately sent
his two chief courtiers, ʿAbdu and the ghaladíma, with positive orders
to seize and imprison the offenders; and when the young outlaws
succeeded in escaping and hiding themselves for a day or two, he had the
chief slave, who had been with them, executed. But the cowardice of his
people, and their oppression of the weak and unprotected, became fully
apparent. A most disgraceful affair happened at this time. A caravan of
inoffensive traders who had encamped in Gáwasú, were surprised by them,
and after considerable havoc had been made among them, were deprived of
almost all their property. These people had been reported to be hostile
pagans, or Ázena, from the district of Sáje in Góber, and dependent on
the protection of the Kél-gerés and the Awelímmiden-wuén-Bodhál, and
were represented as having been trading with the inhabitants of Tléta,
which was hostile to the Féllani; but after this cruel act of injustice
had been committed, it was ascertained that they were peaceable traders
on their way to Kanó, and that among them there were even several
inhabitants of Wurnó.
But it almost seemed as if the prospects of this part of Negroland were
to darken more and more, for the rumours which I had heard on the Niger
of the ancient feud between the Kél-owí and Kél-gerés having again
broken out in a sanguinary struggle, were entirely confirmed here. The
Kél-owí had undertaken this year an expedition on a large scale,
consisting of 5000 men mounted on horses and camels, and, according to
report, with as many as 1000 muskets, against the Kél-gerés and the
Awelímmiden, and had penetrated almost as far as Sáje, which place they
destroyed by fire. The Kél-gerés having taken part in the expedition of
the Góberáwa against the empire of Sókoto, the relation of the Kél-owí
with the latter had assumed a much more friendly character, and our old
friend Ánnur had paid a visit to the town of Kátsena. My friend ʿAbd el
Káder, the Sultan of Ágades, who, as I have mentioned on my outward
journey, had been deposed, and had been succeeded by Hámed e’ Rufáy, had
now turned merchant on a grand scale, endeavouring at the same time to
attach the Fúlbe to his cause. His usual residence was now in Kátsena,
but he had paid a visit the previous year, in company with the governor
of that place, to the emír El Múmenín, taking him, besides a quantity of
bernúses and other valuable articles, a present of thirteen horses of
Tawárek breed, and receiving from the latter, besides a number of tobes,
3,000,000 shells, and 260 slaves. Having remained about two months in
Wurnó, and having been treated altogether in the most distinguished
manner, the ex-king of Ágades had been forwarded with a numerous escort;
for, notwithstanding the extreme weakness of this empire, if viewed from
a European point of view, it even now is not quite destitute of means.
During my stay, the messengers arrived from Záriya, with a bi-monthly
tribute of 300,000 shells, 85 slaves and 100 tobes.
Having at length overcome the laziness of my companions, I had the
satisfaction of seeing my departure finally arranged for the 5th
October. The ghaladíma, in whose company on my outward journey I had
come from Kátsena, was again to be my fellow traveller on my return
eastward. I therefore completed my preparations, and, on the 4th
October, I had my final leave-taking, or, as the Háusa people say, the
babankwána, when I took the opportunity of excusing myself to ʿAlíyu for
having been this year a little troublesome, after the fashion of those
Arab sherífs who used to visit him, stating at the same time, that if my
means had not been almost exhausted, I should have preferred buying a
horse for myself. Having made this prelude, I endeavoured to impress
upon him the dangerous state of the road, when he made use of the
expression common in Háusa, “Alla shibúdeta!” (“God may open it!”); but
I protested against such an excess of reliance upon the Divine
intervention, and exhorted him to employ his own strength and power for
such a purpose, for without security of roads, I assured him there could
be no intercourse nor traffic. He either was, or seemed to be, very
desirous that the English should open trading relations with him; and I
even touched on the circumstance, that in order to facilitate such an
intercourse, it would be best to blow up certain rocks, which most
obstructed the navigation between Yáuri and Búsa, but of such an
undertaking I convinced myself that it was better not to say too much at
once, as that ought to be an affair of time.
Altogether, ʿAlíyu had entered into the most cheerful conversation with
me on all occasions, and had questioned me upon every subject without
reserve. He also furnished me with four letters of recommendation, one
to the governor of Kanó, one to that of Bauchi, one to that of Ádamáwa,
and one in a more general sense, addressed to all the governors of the
different provinces in his empire. Thus I took leave of him and his
court, probably never to see that region again, and lamenting that this
extensive empire, which is so advantageously situated for a steady
intercourse with Europeans, was not in the hands of an energetic
chieftain, who would be able to give stability to conquest, and to
organise the government of these provinces, so richly endowed by nature,
with a strong hand.
[Sidenote: Thursday, October 5th.]
It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when I took my final leave
of Wurnó. I had twice resided in this capital for some length of time,
experiencing, on the whole, much kindness. On my outward journey I had
been furnished on my dangerous undertaking with a strong and powerful
recommendation; and on my return, although I had come into hostile
contact with another section of the same tribe to which the inhabitants
of this country belong, I had been again received without the least
suspicion, had been treated with great regard, notwithstanding the
exhausted state of my finances, and allowed to pursue my home journey as
soon as the season reopened the communication with the neighbouring
province.
Following now quite a different and more southerly road from that which
we had pursued on our outward journey, we encamped this day in Dan-
Sháura[48], a walled town, strengthened by three moats, tolerably well
inhabited, and adorned with fine groups of trees, among which some large
gonda trees, or _Erica Papaya_, were distinguished. The town belongs to
the district of Rába, which forms the title of its governor, who is
called Serkí-n-Rába. He was a decent sort of man, and treated us
hospitably, a dish of fish proving a great luxury to me in this inland
region, and bearing testimony to the considerable size of a large pond
which borders the town on the east side, being apparently in connection
with the gulbi-n-Rába, or Bugga. The evening was clear, and I enjoyed
for a long time the scenery of the place in the fine moonlight, but the
governor would not honour me with his company, being greatly afraid of
the bad influence of the moon, the effect of which he thought far more
injurious than that of the sun.
[Sidenote: Friday, October 6th.]
After a night greatly disturbed first by mosquitoes, and then by a heavy
gale, we pursued our journey, entering a fine open country, which was
intersected further on by a broad fáddama, and beyond that, presented
several ponds half-dried up. But, after a march of about ten miles, we
had a larger valley full of water on our right; and three miles further
on, had to cross it at a spot where the sheet of water was at present
narrowed to about 100 yards in width and 3 feet in depth, and
notwithstanding a considerable current afforded an easier passage than
the other part of the rainy season bed, which at present exhibited
swampy ground, partly overgrown with rank grass, but was very difficult
to cross, and a few days previously had been totally impracticable for
horses or camels.
Four miles and a half beyond this river, through a country adorned with
fine trees, but without any traces of cultivation, we reached a large
river about 250 yards broad, and more than 5 feet deep, running here in
a north-easterly direction, and no doubt identical with the river which
we had lately crossed. How it is that the river here contains so much
more water than it does lower down, I cannot state with certainty; but
my opinion is, that a great portion of it is withdrawn towards the
north, where the forest seems gradually to slope down towards the desert
region of the centre of Gúndumi, where, in a sort of mould, or hollow, a
large lake-like pond is formed. It is rather unfortunate that I had not
an opportunity of asking information on this subject from one of the
followers of the ghaladíma, who, instead of crossing the first sheet of
water, kept along its northern bank, and thus with a longer circuit, but
without the necessity of embarking in a boat, reached the town of Gandi.
Having then crossed another small fáddama in a wide open country, where
sorghum and cotton were cultivated together in the same fields, we
reached the town of Gandi. It is surrounded by a wall (in a state of
decay), and by two moats, and is of considerable size, but half-
deserted.
We traversed with some difficulty the entrance of the town, which was
adorned on the outside with three very tall bombax, or silk-cotton
trees, and was almost entirely obstructed by a wooden gate, and then
made our way through the desolate area of the town, overgrown with tall
herbage, dúm-palms, and kórna, until we reached the house of the mágaji,
who is one of the five rulers of this vast and desolate place. But we
had a great deal of trouble in procuring quarters in an empty courtyard,
where we were glad to obtain some rest, as, owing to my long illness,
and my entire want of any strengthening food, I felt extremely exhausted
by our day’s march. I had, moreover, the dissatisfaction to find that
one of my people, a liberated slave from Núpe, had remained behind and
could not be found. As for myself, I was not able to stir much about to
inquire after him, for I wanted rest the more, as we had a long day’s
march before us[49], and had to rise at a very early hour.
It was three o’clock the following morning when we all assembled round
the courtyard of the ghaladíma, but on account of the guide who had
promised to conduct us through the wilderness not daring to trust
himself with these people without receiving his reward beforehand, we
did not get off till half-past five o’clock, after we were quite tired
out and ill prepared for a long march. The forest was overgrown with
rank grass, and in the beginning exhibited some large ponds. The dorówa
formed the principal tree, only now and then a dúm-palm giving some
variety to the vegetation. Through this dense forest we marched at such
a rate, that it rather resembled a flight than anything else, rendering
it impossible for me to lay down this road with the same degree of
accuracy to which I had adhered with the greatest perseverance
throughout the whole extent of my long wanderings. At length, after a
march of more than twenty miles, we reached the beginning of the large
pond Subúbu, which, however, at present was almost dried up, presenting
nothing but small pools of water; but I was sadly disappointed in my
hopes of obtaining here some rest, the locality being regarded as too
insecure to make a long halt, although on account of this sheet of water
we had evidently given to our course a direction greatly diverging from
that of our main route, which was to the north-east. I felt so much
exhausted, that I was obliged shortly after to remain secretly behind,
protected only by my faithful servant El Gatróni, when I lay down flat
on the ground for a few moments, and then, refreshed a little, hastily
followed the troop. Thus we proceeded onward, and the day passed by
without there appearing any vestige of a town. After many
disappointments, dragging myself along in the most desperate state of
exhaustion, about an hour after midnight we at length reached cultivated
fields and encamped at some distance from the town of Danfáwa or Dan-
Fáwa, on an open piece of ground. Not being able to wait till the tent
was pitched, I fell fast asleep as soon as I dismounted. A very heavy
dew fell during the night.
[Sidenote: Sunday, October 8th.]
Having obtained some water and a couple of fowls from some farming
people in our neighbourhood, we succeeded in finding our camels (which
on account of the exhausted condition of my people had wandered away),
and set out a little after noon, passing close by the town, where a
tolerable market was held, and where I provided myself with corn for the
next few days. The town of Dan-Fáwa is tolerably populous, and there are
even a good many huts outside the walls; but I was astonished at
observing the filthy condition of the pond from which the inhabitants
procure their supply of water. It could not fail to confirm my former
conjecture, that most of the diseases of the inhabitants, especially the
guinea-worm, are due to this dirt and filth, which they swallow at
certain seasons of the year in this sort of water.
Having lost some time in the market, I overtook my people as they were
winding along the steep bank of a considerable river, which, taking a
northerly course, and evidently identical with the watercourse at
Katúru, joins the great valley of Góber, a few miles to the north-west
of Sansánne ʿAísa. At the place where we crossed, it was about 200 yards
broad, but very shallow at the time, being only a foot deep and full of
sandbanks; but I was not a little astonished to find that it contained a
very great quantity of fish, numbers of people being employed in
catching them by the beating of drums. Although the bank was so steep,
there were evident signs that a short time before, it had been covered
by the water, and part of the crops, even beyond its border, had been
damaged by the inundation.
The country appeared to be well inhabited. A little further on we passed
on our left a populous walled town called Dóle, and an apparently larger
place became visible on the other side, the pasture-grounds being
covered with extremely fine cattle. After we had crossed the river, I
found that the highest stalks of Indian corn, which was fast ripening,
measured not less than twenty-eight feet. Besides sorghum, sweet
potatoes, or dánkali, were also cultivated here to a great extent.
Having then crossed a stony tract, we again reached the town of Moríki,
where the river approaches to within a few hundred yards.[50] On the
high ground close to the border of the town, a market-place spreads out.
Having observed the narrowness of the lanes, I preferred encamping a
considerable distance beyond the town near a hamlet, surrounded by a
thick fence, and inhabited by Fúlbe, of the tribes of the Jakabáwa and
Kukodáwa. The neighbourhood of Moríki was said to be infested by the
inhabitants of the town of Tléta, who were reported to make nightly
forays, carrying away horses and cattle; but notwithstanding this
information, we had an undisturbed night’s rest, although I thought it
prudent to fire several shots.
[Sidenote: Monday, October 9th.]
Having dried our tent a little from the extremely heavy dew which had
fallen during the night, we set out to join our companions. Traversing
the same rocky district through which we had passed on our outward
journey, we reached again the well-known place of Dúchi, and entering
with difficulty the obstructed lanes of the village where we lost
another of our camels, pitched our tent on a small open square opposite
the house where the ghaladíma had taken up his quarters. Some tamarind
trees on the slope of a rocky eminence, which rose close behind our
resting place, afforded us a tolerable shelter during the hot hours of
the day.
[Sidenote: Tuesday, October 10th.]
Our day’s march carried us as far as Búnka, with the loss of another of
our camels, and we encamped this time inside the town in a tolerably
spacious courtyard, the surrounding fields being now covered with tall
crops, and not affording sufficient ground for encamping. Altogether the
country presented a very different aspect from what it had done on our
outward journey, and the watercourse near Zýrmi with its steep banks,
offered a difficult passage, although the water was not more than a foot
and a half deep. My camels being either knocked up or having entirely
succumbed, I endeavoured in vain to procure a good ox of burden, the
principal reason of my difficulty being, that I was not provided with
shells, and, in consequence, I had some trouble the next day in reaching
the town of Kámmané, where the ghaladíma took up his quarters. Already
on the road, I had observed a good deal of indigo and cotton cultivated
between the sorghum. Even here close to the town, we found the grounds
divided between the cultivation of rice and indigo; and I soon learnt
that the whole industry of the inhabitants consisted in weaving and
dyeing. They have very little millet of any kind, so that their food is
chiefly limited to ground-nuts or kolche. They have no cattle, but their
cotton is celebrated on account of its strength, and the shirts which
they dye here, are distinguished for the peculiar lustre which they know
how to give to them. Although the inhabitants have only about twenty
horses, they are able, according to their own statement, to bring into
the field not less than 5000 archers. However exaggerated this statement
may be, they had not found it very difficult, the preceding year, to
drive back the expedition of the Góberáwa; for they keep their wall in
excellent repair, and even at present only one gate was passable at all
for laden animals, the others being only accessible by a kadárku or
narrow drawbridge. The whole interior of the town presented an
interesting aspect, tall dúm-palms shooting up between the several
granite mounds which rise to a considerable elevation[51], while the
courtyards exhibited a great deal of industry, the people being busy
with their labours till late in the evening. The proprietor of the
courtyard where I had taken up my quarters treated me with the favourite
drink of furá soon after my arrival, and with túwo in the evening. I was
also fortunate enough to obtain some milk from the villagers outside.
[Sidenote: Thursday, October 12th.]
It was rather late when we left this place for another long forced
march, a dense fog enveloping the country; but it was still much too
early for my noble friend the ghaladíma, who was busy installing a new
governor, for which he received a present of a horse and large heaps of
shells, so that it was almost ten o’clock before we had fairly entered
upon our march. This district being very dangerous, we proceeded on with
great haste, and I really conjectured that it was in truth the unsafe
state of the road which had caused the delay of our departure, the
people being anxious to disappoint the enemy, who, if they had heard the
news of our arrival in this place, would of course expect that we should
set out in the morning. Having made our way for about six hours through
a dense forest, we left a granite mound and the ivy-mantled wall of Rúbo
on one side, with a fine rími and abundance of fresh grass of tall
growth. The forest then became clearer, and we reached a considerable
tebki, or pond, which being regarded as the end of the dangerous tract,
my companions came to congratulate me upon having now at length escaped
the dangers of the road. However, our day’s march was still tolerably
long, extending altogether to twelve hours; and being rather unwell that
day, I had considerable difficulty in keeping up with the troop. In
consequence of our late departure, we had to traverse the most difficult
part of our route, that nearest to Úmmadaw, which is intersected by
granite blocks, in the dark, so that our march was frequently
obstructed, especially at a spot where two mighty granitic masses left
only a narrow passage. A good deal of indigo is here cultivated between
the millet; and the town itself is very spacious; but arriving at so
late an hour, we had great difficulty in obtaining quarters, all the
open grounds being covered with corn, and we were glad to find at length
an open square where we might pitch our tent.
[Sidenote: Friday, October 13th.]
Here my route separated from that of the ghaladíma, as I was going to
Kanó, while he, again, along this roundabout way (the direct route
having been almost entirely broken up by the enemy), directed his steps
towards Kátsena. After satisfying our appetites, for which we had not
been able to provide the preceding night, I took a small present with
me, and went to bid farewell to the ghaladíma and those of his suite who
had been particularly kind to me; and I hope that they will long
remember me. Having fulfilled this duty, I proceeded with my people, in
order to continue my march alone. The country was tolerably open, broken
only here and there by granite rocks, while the vegetation was enlivened
now and then by dúm-palms. Cultivation was limited to certain tracts;
but, notwithstanding the unsafe state of the country, the pasture-
grounds were not quite destitute of cattle; and being at length able to
travel according to my own inclinations, I enjoyed the scenery
extremely. It had been my original intention to pursue the road to
Korófi; but, by mistake, after leaving Wurmó, I had got into the track
leading to Birchi. I reached this latter town after a march of
altogether about twelve miles, having crossed my former route from
Kúrayé to Kúrrefi. I found that almost all the male inhabitants of the
place had joined the expedition against Káura; and I pitched my tent in
front of the house of the ghaladíma, but was invited by the people who
were left as guardians to pass the hot hours of the day in the cool
entrance-hall of his courtyard. Although the place does not exhibit any
great signs of wealth or comfort, I was glad to find that the corn here
was much cheaper than in Úmmadaw. I was also enabled to buy some butter.
Moreover, the absence of the governor exercised no unfavourable
influence upon my treatment, which was very kind: an old mʿallem
especially evinced a friendly disposition towards me.
[Sidenote: Saturday, October 14th.]
After a march of about fourteen miles, passing by the town of Rawëó,
where a small market was held, and traversing the suburb of Sakássar,
with its beautiful “ngáboré,” or fig-trees, we reached the town of Máje,
which had been represented to us as rich in cattle and milk, but which I
found half deserted; the town having greatly declined about twelve years
previously, when the whole country, including the places Takabáwa,
Matázu, Korófi, and Kúrkojángo, revolted, and gave free passage to an
army of the Góberáwa. I was glad to buy a good sheep for 1500 shells.
The governor of the place was absent in Kátsena, where he generally
resides. We had pitched our tent in the shade of a beautiful fig-tree,
and passed the afternoon very pleasantly; but were greatly troubled
during the night by the numbers of mosquitoes.
Rising at an early hour, and traversing a fine country, I reached the
large town of Kusáda in the afternoon, and encamped here, outside, not
far from the market-place, which at the time of my arrival was quite
untenanted; but the following night it became well frequented by a
number of travellers who sought quarters there. On this march I observed
a specimen of industry on a small scale, exercised by the inhabitants of
the town of Máje, who buy sour milk in a place called Kánkia, at a
considerable distance, and supply the town of Korófi with it. Numerous
villages were lying on either side of our path, cultivated and
uncultivated ground succeeding alternately; Indian millet being here the
chief product besides cotton. The pasture-grounds also were enlivened by
a good number of horses.
Pursuing from this point my old road through the fine province of Kanó,
rich in all kinds of produce, and well stocked with cattle, and
encamping the next night close beyond the town of Bíchi, I reached the
town of Kanó in the afternoon of the 17th, having sent one of my people
in advance.
[Footnote 47: This expedition was led by the Dan-ghaladíma-Góber, and
fell upon the border district of Jýju, situated in the rocky district
between Giyáwa and Wurnó, and comprising many small hamlets, or gídaje,
as the Gída-n-Ríya, Gída-n-Alisówa, Gída-n-Gorgábe, Gída-n-Kóla-Dalládi,
Gída-n-Maidanga, Gída-n-Yakúbu, Gída-n-Ruggun-dáji, Rúmde-n-ghaladíma,
and Alkáli-Asben. A brother of his ransacked Wáno, separated only by a
narrow valley from Saláme.]
[Footnote 48: I here give a list of the towns and villages lying along
this river on the side of Dan-Sháura:—Dogáwa, Tungámmaza, Tunsumáwa,
Tófa, Gída-n-dan-Damáwa, Gída-n-Laudam, Basánsan, Gída-n-Somába, G.
Mágaji, Gelgil, G. Atafíru, Jan Tumbagébe, Birni-n-Dangéda, Gajére,
Dorówa-n-birni, Dakuráwa, Kundus, Rára. Between the town of Rába, from
whence this river has received the name Gulbi-n-Rába, and Sókoto, there
are the places: Kurfi, Torónka, Káwasa, Durbel, Dúnguji, Tunga-dúwatsu,
Kabánga (Ungwa Ibrahíma) Garí-n-serkí-n-Ázena.]
[Footnote 49: Close to Gandi is the small hill Dan-Fáwa, where the
ancient town was situated; and, at a distance of about ten miles, is the
well-known town of Bakúra, after which the river is called Gulbi-n-
Bakúra.]
[Footnote 50: The watercourse is here still of considerable size, and
comes a good many miles from the south-east, from a place called Gózaki,
skirting the towns of Kaúri-n-Namóda, and Góga.]
[Footnote 51: Kámmané is one of those places which are distinguished on
account of their granite mounds, and which extend from Áyo and Mágaré to
Chábané, Ájjia, and the fifteen rocky mounds of Kotórkoshé, where the
Sultan of Sókoto had the preceding year directed his expedition.]