212 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LIX. 
double-barrelled gun which he carried on his shoulder, 
and a short sword hanging at his side, while his shirt 
was tossed gallantly up, and tied over the shoulder, 
behind the neck. In my joy at the sight of this en- 
terprising native traveller, I could not forbear making 
him a small present, in order to assist him in his 
arduous undertaking. 
The walls of the town of Kardi, which is chiefly 
inhabited by the slaves of Khalilu, and which is of 
great importance for the supply of corn in this pro- 
vince, were strengthened by a thick fence of thorny 
bushes, which, in these regions, afford an immense 
advantage in the defence of any town, by furnishing 
a secure place of retreat to the archers. 
The green bottom of the wide faddarna had receded 
to a greater distance on our right ; but we joined it 
again seven miles from Giilumbe, and had here to 
cross it beyond a couple of hamlets which, lying close 
together and called, the one Hausawa, and the other 
Kabawa, gave us a slight indication as to the history 
of this country, where the Hausa element, as the 
more civilized, gradually gained the upper hand and 
drove the native element as well as the Songhay, 
which advanced from the west, into the background. 
Perhaps, if we knew more of the history of this coun- 
try, the annals of these two villages might open to 
us a view of an interesting national struggle. The 
faddarna was here at present dry ; and besides yams 
a great deal of tobacco was cultivated. We then 
traversed a wooded tract adorned with a violet lili- 
