o, the Sarkee gets one, and the captor one.
So all have a common interest in these nefarious razzias, and all start
off with the utmost glee to capture their neighbours, their brethren,
and to sell them into bondage. The Sarkee of Zinder will take with him
about five thousand cavalry and thirty thousand foot (bowmen), drawn
from these portions of the provinces against which the razzia is not now
directed.

CHAPTER XIV.

Family of the Sarkee--Converted Jew--Hard Dealings--How to get rid of a
Wife--Route to Tesaoua--Influence of Slavery--Prices of Aloes and
Silk--Medicine for a Merchant--Departure of the Sarkee for the
Razzia--Encampment--Mode of Fighting--Produce of Razzias--Story of the
Tibboo--Sheikh Lousou--Gumel--Superstitions--Matting--Visit
of Ladies--The Jew--Incendiaries--Hazna--Legend of Zinder
Well--Kohul--Cousin of the Sheikh--Female Sheikh--State of the
Country--Salutations.

_Jan. 24th._--The thermometer stood last night at 74 deg. after dark. This
morning it is, as usual, about 56 deg.. The weather is still hazy; but the
town is remarkably healthy, and there are very few cases of fever at the
present time. Zinder, by the people, is said to be always cool.

His highness the Sarkee of Zinder is a prince of true African and
Asiatic calibre. He has three hundred wives, one hundred sons, and fifty
daughters; but his women are not prisoners in a harem. His wives and
daughters are seen about the streets walking alone, and the daughters
are given in marriage to the grandees of the court. His wives, likewise,
are often found with paramours outside the palace.

I went to see a Jew who has been some time resident in Zinder. This Jew
is one of those three who came to Mourzuk with Abd-el-Galeel, and after
his death turned Muslims, and came up to Soudan and Bornou. He is called
Ibrahim. The one now in Tesaoua, and who is going with Overweg to
Maradee, is Mousa; and the other is called Isaac. The Moors put no faith
in the conversion of these Jews: they say, "These men are always Jews in
their hearts; they turned Muslims on speculation." It is certain that
they got handsome presents at Mourzuk from the credulous believers. Of
others, the Moors say they became Muslims to prevent the Tuaricks from
killing them. I asked Ibrahim how he passed the Tuarick countries, and
was informed that the Ghatees treated him the worst. They swore he was
not a Muslim, but still a Jew, and demanded one hundred dollars from him
to