Chap. LXVII. MY OWN QUARTERS. 
449 
was enabled to observe everything which was going 
on in my house ; and through the screen which pro- 
tected the opening, close by the side of my couch, I 
could observe everybody that entered my yard long 
before they saw me. For this reason I preferred 
this place even to the room on the terrace, although 
the latter had the advantage of better air. I may 
observe that these upper rooms in general form the 
private residence of most of the people in the town 
who have the luxury of such an upper story. 
1. First segffa, or, as it is called in Songhay, " sffa," 
or ante -room. 
2. Second segffa, with a staircase, or " tintim," (3) 
leading to the terrace, " garbene," and the front 
room on the terrace, where three of my people well- 
armed were constantly keeping watch. 
4. Inner courtyard. 
5. Hall, with two open entrances, wherein I had my 
residence by night and day, on the reed-bed on 
the right. 
6. Store-room capable of being locked up. 
7. Covered passage, or corridor. 
8. Second court-yard, originally intended for the fe- 
male department, but where I kept my horse, the 
surrounding rooms as well as the back wall of the 
house being in a state of decay. 
About three o'clock in the morning, Monday> 
while I was lying restlessly on my couch, September 26th. 
endeavouring in vain to snatch a moment's sleep, the 
Sheikh Sidi A'hmed el Bakay arrived. The music, 
which was immediately struck up in front of his house 
by the women, was ill adapted to procure me rest ; 
VOL. IV. G G 
