170 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LVII 
and in consequence were driven to a great distance, 
as is the general custom with the Fulbe or Fellani 
of these quarters, even those settled in the province 
of Katsena having at times their herds of cattle 
pasturing in the far-distant grassy and healthy- 
grounds of Zaberma. 
While the cultivation of rice prevails in the north- 
easternmost part of the valley, more cotton and sor- 
ghum were observed towards the village of Gida-n- 
manomi, although the state of the fields did not argue 
a great deal of industry on the part of the inhabitants, 
being rather obstructed by weeds and thorny bushes. 
But far more native corn is grown on the other 
side of Wurno, so that it even forms a mercantile 
speculation, on a small scale, to carry corn from 
Wurno to Sokoto ; nay, even sheep are transported 
in this way for a very small profit, being bought in 
Wurno for 1200 or, when on credit, for 1400 shells, 
and sold in Sokoto for 1500. 
Having ascended the rising ground close beyond a 
source of limpid water producing a narrow spot of 
fresh verdure, the rocky surface was soon succeeded 
by a fertile plain of sand covering the rock to the 
depth of a foot, while the fields of the various 
farmers were separated from each other by slabs 
of sandstone. The labours of the fields, however, 
had not yet begun ; and trees also here were 
scanty, a small mimosa indicating the halfway or 
" mararraba" between the two towns, while another 
village was distinguished by a single deleb palm. 
