re two principal streets, running from the south to the
north; one terminating at the castle of the Governor, and the other in
the market. These are of some width, there being space for a dozen
camels to pass abreast. There are, besides, many little squares before
the houses of the grandees, where the people lounge: the streets are
always full of idle people.

Instead of _suak_, the women used here the calix of a flower, called
_furai_, for staining their teeth with a deep amber colour. It is the
fashion for ladies to dress their hair in solid knots, two of which fall
over the temples, one over the ear, and the other at the back of the
head. Some of the women have hair tolerably long. I noticed to-day the
shonshonah of Daura. It consists of two thick cuts, forming an angle at
the corner of the mouth, with a few small ones on the temples.

I went to see another Tree of Death, where his highness slaughters
criminals in the same way as mentioned under the other tree. The space
beneath the boughs is also swept clean. This tree is more spreading, and
of another sort; it is crowned with the filthy vultures, which roost day
and night in considerable numbers on its upper branches. Yusuf tells me
the history of these trees, when the inhabitants were pagans. It was
under them that the people sacrificed their oxen and sheep to the deity,
who was supposed to reside in these trees. Scarcely a generation has
elapsed since this was the case, so that the people may well dread to
venture where, in the time of old men yet living, sacrifices, some
perhaps human, were offered up.

The Sheikh is obliged to keep a tight hand over the inhabitants of
Zinder, to prevent them from lapsing into paganism. His father made them
Muslims, and he holds them to the profession of Islamism.

No news from Tesaoua respecting the four persons who were sent to bring
Drs. Barth and Overweg first to Bornou, before they went to Soudan. I
have had several patients, but ophthalmia does not prevail here as in
Damerghou.

A constant succession of visitors troubled me all day long. Another son
of the Sultan came this morning--quite a young man--and a dozen of boys
from the palace, some sons of the Sultan, and others of his ministers. I
gave them all a little piece of white sugar, and sent them off. This is
the cheapest present.

I am told that all the Tuaricks are dreadfully afraid of the Sultan of
Zinder, for whenever his highness catches an offender, let him