MODE OF THATCHING HUTS. 189 



the obscure and contradictory accounts of the 

 natives. 



During my stay at Yimmahah, I was treated 

 with the greatest deference and respect by the 

 inhabitants, and at last got so intimate, that the 

 children would even shake hands with me. An 

 old Mallam, who was the owner of some extensive 

 dyeing works, and reputed the richest man in 

 the place, was my constant companion, and from 

 him I learnt much of the state of trade in the in- 

 terior. He confirmed my opinion, that formerly 

 there was a direct communication between Kano 

 and other towns in the interior and this part by 

 Cafilas, and that the rapacity and extortion of 

 the King of Fundah had put a stop to it. I 

 must do this old gentleman the justice to state, 

 that he strongly dissuaded me from going to 

 Fundah, saying very truly, '' If the king has 

 ivory, he can send it to you here, and not trouble 

 you to go to him." 



In the course of my stay at Yimmahah, my 

 attention was much struck by the rapidity with 

 which they thatch their houses. The process is 

 simply as follows : — A pole is placed upright on 

 the ground to form the apex of the roof. A cir- 

 cle is traced on the ground by a string from this 



