112 DYE- YARD OF EGGA. 



they will take. If an offer is made which the 

 seller thinks too little, he replies, " Al burkah !" 

 (a blessing) — " Cour de nour ?" (How many 

 cowries?) — '^Alburkah!" It was very entertain- 

 ing to hear them bartering and trading. 



From the market I went to several yards and 

 dye-houses. In most of the dye-yards there 

 were nine large pots four feet by three, with 

 larger ones sunk in the ground. The principal 

 articles employed to obtain the dye were trona, 

 and the bark of a tree resembling the cortis 

 cinchor, and indigo in its natural state. The 

 indigo appeared of a superior quality ; and, no 

 doubt, if these people possessed better means, 

 they might bring the art of dyeing to much 

 greater perfection. The sides of several of the 

 vessels were perforated with holes to allow the 

 liquor to run off; and in the yard were tobes, 

 cloths, and leather, undergoing the process of 

 dyeing. The glazed appearance on the tobes, 

 which have a coppery colour, is produced by 

 rollers of wood pressed on them. On one side 

 of the yard spinning and weaving were going for- 

 ward, the spinning- walk being about thirty yards 

 long. The process of weaving is similar to what 

 I have before observed in Africa : it is conduct- 



