Chap. LIX. CHARACTER OF THE FO'GIIA PEOPLE. 231 
was able to supply me with even the smallest pro- 
vision of corn, although they all evinced their bene- 
volent disposition, and Senina (who, by wearing a 
miserable sort of bermis of the poorest description, 
seemed to vindicate his superiority over his brother 
chiefs) made me a present of 100 Kola nuts, which 
luxury he could more easily spare than a few grains 
of corn. Mamma Yidi, on the other hand, an elderly 
gentleman, was distinguished by his amiable con- 
duct, and understood even a little Hausa. Generally 
speaking, none of the Fiilbe here speak a single word 
of that language, the valley of Fogha forming the 
boundary between the Hausa and the Songhay lan- 
guages. I likewise received a visit from two sons 
of the kadhi or alkali, one of whom, of the name of 
'Abd el Wahabi, was a remarkably handsome man, of 
very gentlemanlike bearing, more like a European in 
his countenance than a native of Negroland, and of 
a melancholy turn of mind, which awakened my in- 
terest in him. 
My two warlike companions from Zo- Tuesday, 
girma, who, by their experience and ener- June uth * 
getic conduct, had inspired me with almost un- 
bounded confidence, and whom I should have liked 
to have attached to me for a much longer period, 
had returned home the moment I reached the border 
of the valley, finding their only safety in speed and 
secrecy, and cutting straight across the thickest part 
of the forest ; and, in consequence, I had used all 
my endeavours to obtain here another escort, but 
Q 4 
