Chap. LV* THE GHALADI'mA OF SO'kOTO. 99 
Nupe, in order to pave my way, by means of these 
favourite articles, through the countries on the middle 
course of the Niger, where nothing is esteemed more 
highly than these native manufactures.* But, as I 
afterwards found out, I sustained a considerable loss 
in buying the Nupe tobes here, at least 20 per cent, 
dearer than I should have been able to do in Gando ; 
but this I could not possibly know beforehand, nor 
was it my previous intention to make any stay in that 
place, where large parcels of these articles are never 
brought into the market. I also added to my store a 
few more articles of Arab manufacture, there having 
arrived, on the 5th of March, a very numerous caravan 
of Ghadamsi and other people from the north, with 
* I bought here altogether 75 turkedis or woman-cloths, which 
form the usual standard article in Timbuktu, and from which 
narrow shirts for the males are made; 35 black tobes of Kano 
manufacture ; 20 ditto of Nupe manufacture ; 20 silk of different 
descriptions; 232 black shawls for covering the face, as the best 
presents for the Tawarek. I also bought here, besides, four very 
good cloth bernuses from some Tawat traders lately arrived from 
their country with horses, and some other little merchandise, and 
half a dozen of " hamail," or sword-hangings, of red silk of Fas 
manufacture. I also provided myself here with water-skins and 
kulabu, or large skins for covering the luggage for the whole of 
my journey. No place in the whole of Negroland is so famous 
for excellent leather and the art of tanning as Katsena : and if 
I had taken a larger supply of these articles with me it would 
have been very profitable; but of course these leather articles 
require a great deal of room. I also bought a good quantity of 
the tobacco of Katsena, which is held in great estimation even 
in Timbuktu, whither the excellent tobacco from Wadi Nun 
is brought in considerable quantity. 
h 2 
