Chap. LVI. Z y'rmI — STATE OF ZA'nFARA. 
121 
hence it is difficult to know which towns are still 
dependent upon the dominion of Sokoto, and which 
adhere to their enemies the Goberawa.* The town 
is still tolerably well inhabited, the western more 
densely than the eastern quarter. 
The direct road leads along the wall, and close be- 
yond passes by the site of the former town Dada; 
but, in order to water my horse, I descended into the 
koramma, which was here encompassed by banks 
about twenty-five feet high, the gradually-shelving 
slopes of which were laid out in kitchen-gardens, 
where onions were cultivated. Passing then a tract 
thickly overgrown with monkey-bread trees, we tra- 
versed a straggling village, the whole appearance of 
which left a feeling of peace and comfort, rather than 
of the constant state of warfare which prevails in this 
country. But everything in human life depends on 
habitude ; and these poor people, not knowing any 
better, bear the state of insecurity to which they 
are exposed, without uneasiness. 
Numerous neat cottages were just being built; and 
the western end of the village especially, being adorned 
by several groups of the goncla tree, or Erica Papaya, 
had a very pleasant appearance. Dyeing-pits are not 
wanting in any of the larger towns of Zanfara ; and 
a numerous herd of cattle met our view close beyond 
the village. 
* For further details on this subject, see Appendix I. ; and 
for an outline of the histor) r of Zanfara, see the Chronological 
Tables. 
