Chap. LXV. DESCRIPTION OF KA'BARA. 
397 
reception I was to meet with in this quarter. But 
notwithstanding the uncertainty of my prospects, 
I felt cheerful and full of confidence ; and, as I was 
now again firmly established on dry soil, I went early 
in the morning to see my horse, which had success- 
fully crossed all the different branches lying between 
Kabara and Sarayamo ; but I was sorry to find him 
in a very weak and emaciated condition. 
While traversing the village, I was surprised at 
the many clay buildings which are to be seen here, 
amounting to between 150 and 200 ; however, these 
are not so much the dwellings of the inhabitants of 
Kabara themselves, but serve rather as magazines for 
storing up the merchandise belonging to the people 
of, and the foreign merchants residing in, Timbiiktu 
and Sansandi. There are two small market-places, 
one containing about twelve stalls or sheds, where all 
sorts of articles are sold, the other being used exclu- 
sively for meat. Although it was still early in the 
day, women were already busy boiling rice, which is 
sold in small portions, or made up into thin cakes 
boiled with bulanga, and sold for five shells each. 
Almost all the inhabitants, who may muster about 
2000, are Songhay ; but the authorities belong to the 
tribe of the Fiilbe, whose principal wealth consists of 
cattle, the only exception being the office of the in- 
spector of the harbour, — a very ancient office, repeat- 
edly mentioned by xVhmed Baba, — which at present is 
in the hands of Miilay Kasirn, a sherif whose family is 
said to have emigrated originally from the Gharb or 
