rk, 80 deg..

_5th._--I had a visit from a number of Tuarick ladies from the villages
around, all of whom put their hands to their stomachs, and pretended
they were mighty ill. I gave them all round a cup of tea. The renegade
Jew came this morning, and gave me a list of all the things sold in the
market of Kanou.

I went in the afternoon to see the Kaid of Haj Beshir of Kuka, called
Abd-el-kerim. He had a female slave afflicted with the leprosy, and sent
for me to come and see her. He gave me some gour-nuts, and I found him a
friendly man. Denham represents the Bornou people of his time as very
fanatical. At present I have seen nothing of this. But we are in a
province where there are many Hazna, or pagans; and the people of Zinder
are but lukewarm Muslims. I have yet had no instance of fanaticism,
either from people of Kuka or from residents here.

I was amused by the relation of Haj Mohammed Ben Welid respecting his
intercourse with an American vessel at Niffee.[20] He first describes
the vessel as very large; the sides being ascended by a ladder. Then
these Americans (English they were called) had a black interpreter, who
spoke Arabic. Through this black fellow they inquired of the man of
Ghadamez from whence he came. He replied, "Ghadamez,"--this they did not
know; then "Trablous,"--this they did not know; then "Tunis,"--nor was
this place known; and, finally, "Malta." "Ah!" they cried, "we have
heard of this place." They then asked him what he traded in, and gave
him some tobacco and rum. They were full of goods of every
description,--calicoes, powder, shot, rum, tobacco, dollars, and _wada
yaser_ (a great quantity of cowries), &c.

[20] See the Appendix. This Haj appears to have given some
useful information to Mr. Richardson.--ED.

My room has been an hospital all this day, full of the sick, with
various disorders. They come mostly from the villages around Zinder, and
amongst them are a great number of Tuaricks, these people being more
exposed to the weather, or more delicate, or more fanciful in their
complaints. These poor devils all bring something--a little cheese, or a
little milk; and I have received more of these trifling presents from
them during the twenty days that I have been in Zinder, than in all the
five or six months which I spent in their country. The reason may be,
that in Asben they have nothing (or next to nothing), whilst here reigns
abundance. Our servants say now that the Tuarick