r shorter time, according to the strength of
constitution. Some who have taken remedies, soon after the poison,
live 8 or 10 years; otherwise the poison kills in 4 or 5 days.
Physicians prescribe an emetic, the composition of which he does
not know.

[Footnote 70: A decoction of the herb henna produces a deep
orange die. It is used generally by the females on their hands
and feet: it allays the violence of perspiration in the part to
which it is applied, and imparts a coolness.]

NEIGHBOURING NATIONS.

There are no Arabs between Timbuctoo and the Nile; they live on the
36 other side[71], and would not with impunity invade the lands of
these people, who are very populous, and could easily destroy any
army that should attempt to molest them. The lands are chiefly
private property. The Foulans are very beautiful. The Bambarrahs
have thick lips and wide nostrils. The king of Foulan is much
respected at Timbuctoo; his subjects are Muhamedans, but not
circumcised.[72] They cannot be made slaves at Timbuctoo; but the
Arabs steal their girls and sell them; not for slavery, but for
marriage.

Girls are marriageable very young; sometimes they have children at
ten years old.

[Footnote 71: North of the town.]

[Footnote 72: All true Muhamedans are circumcised, so that they
must partake of Paganism if uncircumcised.]

37

JOURNEY
FROM
TIMBUCTOO TO HOUSA.

Shabeeny, after staying three years at Timbuctoo, departed for
Housa: and crossing the small river close to the walls, reached the
Nile in three days, travelling through a fine, populous, cultivated
country, abounding in trees, some of which are a kind of oak,
bearing a large acorn[73], much finer than those of Barbary, which
are sent as presents to Spain. Travelling is perfectly safe. They
embarked on the Nile in a large boat with one mast, a sail, and
oars; the current was not rapid: having a favourable wind, on his
return, he came back in as short a time as he went. The water was
38 very red and sweet.[74] The place where they embarked is called
Mushgreelia; here is a ferry, and opposite is a village. As the
current is slow, and they moored every night, they were eight or