24 TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LIII. 
or college, attached to the mosque. The fact is, that 
although Bornu at all times has had some learned 
men, study has always been a private affair, amongst 
a few individuals, encouraged by some distinguished 
men who had visited Egypt and Arabia. Taking into 
consideration the great extent of the empire during 
the period of its grandeur, and the fertility and wealth 
of some of its provinces, which caused gold dust at 
that time to be brought to market here in considerable 
quantity, it cannot be doubted that this capital con- 
tained a great deal of barbaric magnificence, and even 
a certain degree of civilization, much more so than 
is at present to be found in this country; and it is 
certainly a speculation not devoid of interest to 
imagine, in this town of ISTegroland, a splendid court, 
