rough it; it was full of people and
merchandise; all things in abundance; no one called after me, but I did
not like to stay long to expose myself. The principal provisions and
domestic animals offered for sale are cattle (oxen), sheep, camels,
asses, goats, beef, mutton, samen, honey, ghaseb, ghafouley, a little
wheat, dried fish (rather stinking, because no salt is used in drying),
kibabs or roasted pieces of meat, beans, dankali or sweet potatoes;
which last are brought from Kanou, as also is the fish, &c. I purchased
three sweet potatoes for a fifth of a penny. There was, besides, also a
good quantity of merchandise of every sort, and slaves in numbers. Honey
also is brought from Kanou to this souk. In Kanou, twelve pounds and
a-half are sold for four thousand wadas, or four-fifths of a dollar. In
Zinder, the same quantity sells for about double the price. They
adulterate here and send it to Aheer.

In the evening I went with the Shereef to his garden. He has brought
with him the tastes of the people of Morocco for gardens, and has
introduced into Zinder tomatas from Kuka. His beds contain onions,
peppers, cucumbers, wheat, lemons, date-palms, and some other small
things. There is a little wheat also, but merely as an ornament. The
date-palms bear twice a-year, but the dates do not dry in this country.
There is a part of Soudan where the dates are said to become dry as
those of Fezzan. The lemons are as good as those on the north coast, but
they are found only in Soudan. But two or three trees have been seen in
Bornou. Onions are in abundance, and it is said that those people who
eat onions do not catch the fevers of Soudan. The Shereef considers the
horses of this country to have little strength--not to be compared with
those of the north coast. He has sent me one to ride round the environs.
We conversed upon Algerian affairs. The Shereef said nothing against the
French in general; he only complained of the non-fulfilment of the
treaty of capitulation with Abd-el-Kader and his fellow-prisoners. I
told him Bou Maza was liberated, which news surprised him. He said Bou
Maza was a fool, and had no followers. All the conversation of the
Shereef was marked with good sense. He had been in Malta, and resided
there two months. His native place is two days' journey from Tangiers.
He is well acquainted with Christians. He speaks with a strong Mogarbi
accent. As to this country and the Tuaricks, he observed the Sheikh was
dete