176 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LVII. 
visit to the market, which is situated at its north- 
eastern corner, on the brink of the rugged slope which 
descends into the valley. It was empty at the present 
time, — only a few slight sheds being made ready for 
the following day, when the great market was to be 
held ; and the prospect over the broad flat valley to the 
north and north-west, in the direction of Diinday, was 
uninterrupted, presenting at this season a scorched-up 
savanna, while the deep rill of the river was scarcely 
to be distinguished. A number of blind women, lean- 
ing on their staves or led by young children, were 
seen carrying pitchers of water up the cliff, affording 
a sad proof of the unhealthiness of the situation of the 
town, where blindness is very frequent. Turning 
then westwards from the market, I reached the house 
of the late king 'Atiku, where at present his son 
Hamedu resides, who formerly had his residence at 
Bakiira, till that place was taken by the Goberawa. 
The house is in good repair, and the quarter adjacent 
is tolerably well inhabited — at least, better than any 
other part of the town ; for Hamedu is the chief of the 
Sissilbe or Syllebawa*, who form the principal stock 
of the population of the neighbouring hamlets or 
rugga of Sokoto. The different nationality of these 
* I shall say more in another place about this interesting tribe, 
who, originally belonging to the Negro stock of the Wakore, have 
been swallowed up in the remarkable migration and conquest of 
the Fulbe eastward ; here I will only mention the various sections 
into which they are divided, at least as far as these eastern quarters 
are concerned. These are the Lobarbe, Lombe, Senlngbe, Yirobe, 
Warbe, Jakkobe, Walarbe, Jagalbe, and Jatibe. 
