he Iman said their deity was
Eblis, or the Devil; an accusation commonly bandied between rival
creeds. He informed me, also, that there are a good number of Hazna in
both Zinder and the other towns and villages of the province. He
despaired of their ever becoming Muslims, but added, "The great men
amongst them must become Muslims by order of the Sheikh, whilst the poor
people are left to do as they please, and so furnish a constant supply
for the home and foreign slave-mart. It is not the interest of the
Sarkee or the foreign merchants that they should become Muslims."

I have heard of the names of two other Tuarick tribes, viz. the
Ezzaggeran, near Gouber, and the Daggera, near Minyo, belonging to the
Tuarick country of Gurasu. These, apparently, are fractions of tribes.

I register the following legend, which seems to imply that Zinder, like
many of the towns of this part of Africa, is of comparatively modern
origin.

Twenty years ago there was a fine spring of water bubbling from under
the largest granite rock of Zinder. It was this spring which first
attracted a population to settle here. Suleiman, father of the present
Sarkee, one day harangued the people, and told them, "This water is not
necessary for us; the Sheikh of Bornou will hear of this prey, and come
and take our country from us. Now let us fetch a fighi, who shall write
a talisman; and we will put this talisman upon the mouth of the spring,
and with it a large stone, and the water of the spring shall immediately
dry." The people consented to this; the charm was written and thrown
into the spring, and the stone was rolled on to its mouth; since which
the spring has in reality ceased to flow.

The population of Zinder is now supplied with water from three wells,
about half an hour distant from the spring, now dry. Upon the stone over
this dried spring are several marks, like the footprints of camels and
horses. Other people add, "the marks of a man when he kneels down to
pray."

The Shereef Kebir says, that Lousou brought a piece of magnetic iron to
him, which he sent to Haj Beghir in Kuka. Lousou reports that there is
an abundance of magnetic iron in Aheer. Kohul is very cheap in the
market of Zinder. In Kanou it can be had for ten reals (Fezzan) the
cantar; and in Yakoba, whence it is brought, for three reals. There is a
whole rock of kohul in Yakoba, the property of the Sultan. The Fellatahs
rule Yakoba as well as Adamowa. They are still very power