148 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



great reception awaited him, for the King of Bashar had sent 

 news of his coming. Thence back to Sarua, where he pitched 

 his tent under a fine kuka-tree on the top of a hill opposite 

 the king's house. Here again a beautiful prospect faced him 

 to the south and east. He describes this as a very enjoyable 

 time, in a pleasant land with happy, hospitable inhabitants, 

 fine weather and plenty of game ; duiker, hartebeeste, bush- 

 buck, pig, roan antelope, giraffe and elephant to dehght the 

 heart of the hunter. 



The people of Sarua make a very fine cloth, besides 

 tobacco pipes and pretty water-pots. A little incident which 

 happened here is worth telling to show the gentle nature of 

 the inhabitants. Three of the carriers were caught looting 

 in the village and it was necessary to administer " bulala " 

 (or the rod). The villagers looked on with childlike merriment, 

 and when it was all over, the brother of the man whose 

 property had been stolen came forward and presented the 

 culprits with a handsome " dash " of food. 



From Sarua, Gosling took the road back to Ibi, where 

 he arrived in eight days. After packing up his skins for 

 England, he went by boat up the Benue as far as Lau, which 

 is about 130 miles from Ibi. The river presented a magni- 

 ficent sight, having received its full complement of water 

 from the rains. No sandbanks were to be seen in its broad 

 stream, which had an average width of a mile. The country 

 here is peopled by the Bashimas, but the population of Lau 

 is a very mixed one, including Hausa, Fulani, and Nupe 

 traders. The Niger Company encourage them to work the 

 country by giving them free passages up the river in their 

 boats. The products of the country are gum, rubber, nut oil. 



