304 FROM THE NIC4ER TO THE NILE 



From inquiries among the natives and my own observa- 

 tions, I am sure that the Budumas also hailed from Kanem 

 and took refuge on the islands of the Lake. The two peoples 

 are very similar in type, more especially the women ; this 

 is natural, for throughout the native races the conditions 

 under which the women live are so much the same, 

 whereas the men take on the characteristics of their callings 

 to a certain extent. Thus the Kanembus are pastoral and 

 keen hunters of game and in build are suited to their pursuits, 

 being strong and lithe ; whereas the Budumas, who are 

 fisherfolk, spending most of their time in their canoes, are 

 very much bigger and heavier than the Kanembus, but of 

 remarkable strength derived from the heavy work of poling. 



But more of the Budumas when we reach Lake Chad, 

 and now to return to the Kanembus. They are a fine race 

 and prosper as hunters, farmers and traders ; they grow 

 large crops of millet, some of which they trade in with the 

 Budumas for fish and potash. Potash is the great mono- 

 poly of Kowa and upon this the Lowan waxes rich, for 

 all the supply goes first through the Kowa market and has 

 to pay a toll. Though it is not worked, potash must also 

 abound in this part of Bornu, for the water in all the wells 

 is very strongly impregnated with it, and we found it 

 rather pleasant and wholesome to drink. As black-water 

 fever is not known in this part of the country, I have some- 

 times wondered if the immunity from this terrible sickness 

 is not due in a great measure to the beneficial effect of this 

 mineral, for salt is now largely used^with good results in the 

 treatment of the disease. 



Since the Lowan gains so much by the potash industry, he 



