364 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXIV. 
is extensively cultivated in the neighbourhood, the 
natives, even at this season, appeared to possess a 
sufficient supply. The standard currency consists of 
" tari," that is to say, cotton strips two hands wide, 
of which, unfortunately, I did not possess the smallest 
quantity ; it is only in purchasing sweet or sour milk 
that the inhabitants accept shells. Everything that is 
sold in the market is measured and inspected by an 
officer, who does not bear the same title by which he 
is known in the eastern countries of the Fiilbe, viz. 
" Mmido-liimu," but is here called u emiro-foba." 
A good deal of entertainment was afforded me 
by the daily turning out and bringing in of the se- 
veral divisions of the five herds of cattle which the 
place possessed. Three herds returned early in the 
morning from their pasture grounds, where they 
had been left during the night, in order to be milked ; 
and the two remaining ones were then turned out, 
in order to return during the heat of the day. But 
notwithstanding the considerable number of cattle 
which the place possessed, the drought was so great 
that there was only a small supply of milk at the 
time. 
At length, on the evening of the third day after 
their setting out, my two companions, whom I had 
sent to Somki, returned, and El Walati would fain 
have made me believe that that chief had at first 
most obstinately refused to receive the presents, and 
had peremptorily demanded that I should make him, in 
addition, a present of one of the horses ; but the fact 
