288 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XL VII. 
of extensive apartments. The only part which did 
not correspond with the magnificence of the rest 
of the building, was the staircase, which was rather 
dark and inconvenient. My own apartment was not 
less than thirty-five feet long, by fifteen wide, and as 
many high, and received sufficient light from two 
semicircular windows, which, of course, had no glass, 
but could be closed by means of a shutter of reed. 
The ceiling was gable-shaped — rather a remarkable 
phenomenon in these countries; it was filled out with 
thatchwork. 
But not only were my quarters excellent, but the 
treatment I received also was hospitable in the ex- 
treme; for I had scarcely taken possession of my 
lodgings when a bowl of very excellent pudding made 
its appearance. The thievish propensities of the 
people of Log6n are very remarkable ; and the first 
intimation which I received of it was an official 
caution given to me to beware of the slaves of my 
house. 
Having recruited my strength a little, I went with 
Kashella Madi to pay my compliments to the Ibala- 
ghw&n or Keghamma. We found him in the apart- 
ment marked a in the ground-plan. At first he 
was invisible, sitting behind his matting curtain, 
" parpar " or " farfar," which the Hausa people, in 
humorous mood, call by the name of " munafeki " 
(the sinner), and which is made of a fine species of 
reed-grass ; but he soon allowed me to approach him. 
He was a tall, elderly man, of a cheerful disposition, 
