, and to hear it beaten. It
has led the people of Zinder to the razzia during the time of twelve
sultans. The drummer, when he beats the drum in leading on the people to
the razzia, repeats the perpetual chorus of _Jatau chi geri_--"The red
(Sultan) eats up the country." He is afraid to mention the name of the
Sultan, and so repeats the word red, as distinguishing royalty; but
whether in the same way as purple distinguished the Roman emperors, or
because kings delight in blood, does not appear.

I went to see the process of indigo dyeing. The dyers bore circular pits
of about fifteen or twenty feet deep, and three feet in diameter, in
which they throw the things to be dyed, and leave them there. The pits
are full of the dye, produced by the leaves and the seed of the plant
called _nila_, sodden in water. They dye tobes and raw cotton, and
cotton twist; the work is carried on in the open air. About thirty
people were employed at the pits which I saw. They also prepare indigo
in a better way than what I saw at these pits.

_23d._--I have not quite done with the Tuaricks, and had many visitors
of that tribe to-day; amongst the rest, our old friends and robbers,
Ferajee and Deedee. I told Ferajee I had my boxes full of gold and
silver, and asked him to buy. He replied, "Ah, el-Consul did not say so
in Asben; he said _babo_ (there is none)!" At this, all our visitors
burst out in a roaring laugh. I rejoined, "Oh, no, Ferajee; because I
was then amongst thieves and robbers." (Continued laughter.) I went to
see the souk;--everybody was very civil;--no calling Kafer!--Tuaricks
all as still as mice.

I called upon the Shereef Kebir, and drank with him tea and coffee,
which he makes in Magrabi fashion, putting the sugar in the tea-pot. I
observed, "How is this? I hear the Sultan is going soon on a razzia."
Somewhat disconcerted, he replied, _Allah yalem!_--"God teaches!" After
some time, he explained that the Sheikh left his vassals great liberty
in this matter; that the Sultan of Zinder was permitted to go to Daura
and eat up the Kohlans, but not the Fullans, between whom and the Sheikh
there was peace: that is to say, the Fullans were not to be made slaves,
but the Kohlan subjects of the Fullans might be captured. The Sheikh was
not friendly to Maradee, and wished the Sultan of Zinder to attack that
country; but the Sarkee was a friend of Maradee, and would not, &c. &c.
So it is quite clear these Sarkees, or at any rate the o