UP THE GONGOLA RIVER TO ASHAKA 149 



tin, and arrow poison, called by the natives " oguni," which 

 is also useful in medicine. The trade goods that buy these 

 are black cloth, salt, beads, enamelled buckets and basins. 



POTTERY AT SARUA 



Lau formerly did a big traffic in slaves, and a certain amount 

 still goes on secretly. There was a great scarcity of food 

 in the place at this time, partly owing to a punitive expedition 

 a year ago, and partly to the failure of the crop of guinea- 

 corn, which had been visited with a certain destructive worm. 

 Besides, the Bashimas are an improvident race, and careless 

 in their farming. 



The natives along the banks are of fine build. They have 

 a fashion of scarring their arms all over with deep gashes. 

 Lau is under the Sultan of the Muri province. The last 

 ruler made away with the clerk in the Niger Company's store, 

 and, appropriating the key, sent in whenever he wanted 



