of
strangers.

All the Moors and Arabs whom I conversed with extol the power of the
Sheikh of Bornou, and represent him as the greatest sheikh in Central
Africa. Nevertheless, the Fellatahs are everywhere, far and wide, from
Sakkatou to Adamaua, a dominant people, though few in number compared
with the population of the subjected kingdoms.

One of the most remarkable women, perhaps the only remarkable woman in
Zinder at the present moment, is a certain Hajah (i.e. a woman who has
made the pilgrimage of Mekka). She is a native of Fezzan, and is now
employed in the household of the Sheikh of Bornou. She is excessively
free and easy with all men folks; and although such a saint, her
chastity, I am told, does not rate high. She returns to Kuka with us--no
great gain to our caravan.

Near our enclosure is a long space full of bullocks and cows--some four
hundred and fifty. These are distributed amongst the whole population by
ones, twos, and threes. I have seen no herd but this, and if this is
really the only one, it speaks little for the wealth of the people of
Zinder. In fact, with regard to horses it is much the same,--the Shereef
can hardly find me a horse to ride on in the whole town.

Apparently, Zinder is a wretchedly poor place. All are needy, from the
Sarkee downwards, and when they get any property it all comes from the
razzias. The system of living on rapine and man-stealing seems to bring
its own punishment along with it.

A _posse_ of Tuarick patients assailed me very early this morning. The
Tuaricks, who have more intellect than the blacks, let loose their
imagination to fancy they have all sorts of complaints. Thus I have more
patients from them than from the people of Zinder, and am quite
undeceived as to my having done with this tribe when I entered the gates
of this town. There is, however, this difference now, that they treat me
with the greatest respect, and are very quiet, bringing presents instead
of demanding presents.

The Tuaricks of Gurasu, I hear, have a bad name, and are troublesome to
the Sheikh.

I went to the gardens this morning and yesterday morning--it is an
immense relief from the enclosure of huts in town--but have not observed
anything new. I am told that the suburbs of Kanou are full of palms.
Zinder, if the people were industrious, could have its forests of palms,
bearing luscious fruit twice a-year. But, alas! the excitement of the
razzia destroys the taste for all rational in