ording to this seemingly well-informed person, is
paramount sovereign of Begarmi and Mandara,--these states paying each a
tribute yearly of one thousand slaves, to which Mandara adds fifty
eunuchs,--a most costly contribution. This seems to be the country where
eunuchs are made in these parts.

Lagun is also under the Sheikh, and has become a province of Bornou.

In this country, it is said, there are pieces of cannon. Also, there is
another country, Kussuri, four days south of Begarmi, now united to the
Sheikh's territories; and besides, Maffatai, four days south-east from
Kuka (a country of a sultan).

Dikua, two days south from Kuka; a province with a powerful sultan, who
has the power of life and death.

Kulli, one day west of Dikua; Blad-es-Sultan.

En-Gala, two days south of Kuka, country of a sultan; belonging to
Yusuf, brother of the Sheikh.

I went to see the renegade Jew; he was busy in a quarrel with a servant
of Lousou, to whom he had given eight slaves to take to Ghat, to be sold
on his account. Lousou had sold the slaves, and rendered no account to
the renegade--a most unprincely proceeding, to say the least of it; if,
indeed, it would not be more African to say princely proceeding: for
there seems no vice, whether violent or mean, which is not exaggerated
by the holders of power in these parts.

The souk is almost deserted to-day, on account of the Sarkee being
absent. I passed the slave-stalls, and saw another poor old woman for
sale, upwards of fourscore years of age. The slave-merchants offered her
for four thousand wadas, about eight shillings. People purchase these
poor old creatures that they may fetch wood and water, even until their
strength fails them and they faint by the way.

I made other inquiries about the Hazna of Zinder. It seems the Sarkee
himself is still half pagan, for at the beginning of every year he
proceeds with his officers to a tree, the ancient god of paganism, and
there distributes two goffas of wada (about 100,000), three bullocks and
sheep, and ghaseb, to the poor. These things are really offered to the
deities of his ancestors, though the poor of the country get the benefit
of them. There are four or five trees of this description, at which such
annual offerings are made; but there is only one Tree of Death where
malefactors are executed, the one mentioned in a former page.[17] The
Muslim converts of Soudan find the Ramadhan excessively burdensome, as
well as many o