ls.

To-day, for the first time, I received cowrie money, viz. four cases,
made of matting, each containing 30,000. This was the price of four of
my camels. The Gharian brute I sold to one of the servants for 8000. It
is quite a labour to count this money, but I perceive that some persons
are exceedingly expert at it, and count 5000 in a few minutes. There
would appear to be always some mistakes made; one case was found to have
ninety-eight short. This certainly is not much out of 30,000, and when a
dozen people were counting. The small and large shells are all alike,
and of the same value. But I shall be able to say more of this money
afterwards. Thirty thousand of these shells are many pounds in weight,
and not very conveniently carried about.

I visited some of the principal personages this afternoon, with the
interpreter of the Sultan. This interpreter is a Shereef, and has been a
sailor, in which capacity he has seen Malta, and many European
countries. He is now married to a daughter of the Sultan of Zinder, and
is established here in the confidence of his father-in-law. It appears,
then, that even common Moorish sailors make their way in these black
countries.

The first person we visited was one of the viziers, called Mayaha, a
native of Damagram, a place one day east, from whence the greater part
of the population of Zinder is drawn. This personage was sufficiently
polite. He gave me permission to see the interior of his house, and his
harem. The harem was full of fine, handsome Haussa slaves, attending on
his four wives; they were all polished, and apparently clean, lying
about on the floors of the huts, and in the court-yards, in the most
strenuous idleness--one cleaning, polishing, and decorating another. One
was bolder than the rest, and beckoned me to come to her.

This house of this vizier contained many huts of bee-hive shape; one or
two were built of sun-dried earth, but all were small. Few carpets, or
even mats, were seen: these people of Zinder are most dearly fond of
squatting on the naked dust.

Afterwards I visited the Grand Vizier, or Mustapha Gadalina (a title).
This personage, a man of great age, was polite, but did not permit me to
enter the interior of his house. We then went to see the
Commander-in-chief--a funny fellow. He was very civil to us, and to all,
joking with his soldiers, amidst whom he was squatting. These Zinder
troops have no arms in their undress, and only wear a loose tobe