ars of the boat are now carried, as the people say, by Ben-Adam
(children of Adam, i.e. men). It is certainly more difficult to get them
through these African forests than over the rocks of Sahara on the
camel's back. Five servants of the Sultan of Zinder left this morning,
having brought them thus far, to return. I gave them a little present of
wada and rings.

Gurai is somewhat smaller than Zinder, having a population of perhaps
seven thousand souls. I have overrated the population of Zinder: that
city, probably, does not contain more than ten thousand souls, if so
many. On emerging from the Saharan Desert, where we had been accustomed
to bestow the name of town upon great scattered villages, with a few
hundred inhabitants, Zinder appeared to me quite a capital city. The
town of Gurai is scattered about on several hills, and down their
slopes. These hills are bare of trees and vegetation.

There is a dry ditch surrounding the town. It answers the purpose of a
fortification, especially as its effect is aided by a thickset hedge. At
some places this hedge is growing; at others, it consists merely of
branches cut from various trees, but rendered almost impenetrable by
being made broad and thick. These defences are quite effectual in the
kind of wars carried on in these regions.

CHAPTER XIX.

Fezzanee Traders--Sultan in want of Medicine--The Stud--Letters--Yusuf's
Conduct--Architecture--Fragment of the History of Minyo--Politics
of Zinder--Bornouese Fish--Visits--Two Routes--Dancing by
Moonlight--Richness--Fires--Information on Boushi and Adamaua--The
Yamyam--Liver Complaints--A Girl's Game--Desert Country--Gift Camel--Few
Living Creatures--Village of Gusumana--Environs--The Doom
Fruit--Brothers of Sultan of Sakkatou--Stupid Kadi--Showing off--Hot
Weather--[Final Note--Death of Mr. Richardson.]

I had visits yesterday from all the Fezzanee traders. These people, as
at Zinder, and everywhere at Soudan, sell their goods at a high price to
the Sultan, and then are obliged to wait six or seven months for their
money, eating up all their profits. No wonder the poor fellows rarely
get rich, but remain, on the contrary, always miserably poor. The same
is the case throughout all Soudan. To-day my tent was thronged with
visitors, before whom I am obliged to exhibit myself, or show my
curiosities. Among others, I had a visit from some people who came from
Gobter, distant four hours south, on purpose to see me; and, mo