Chap. XLIX. 
THE MARKET. 
383 
cultivation having been introduced into the country by 
the Arabs from the north, together with wheat. But 
the native Arabs, or Shiwa, and the Arabs from the 
coast, or Waseli, use this vegetable to a great extent, as 
well for seasoning their food as for medicine, especially 
in case of fever, small-pox, and obstruction of urine, 
from which latter inconvenience they suffer very 
much, in consequence of their marching during the 
heat of the day. 
Besides the articles above-mentioned, the commo- 
dity most plentiful in the -market was grain, especially 
Guinea grain or Pennisetum typho'ideum, the dealers 
in which had a special place assigned to them in the 
northern part of the market, under a fine tamarind- 
tree, or "mas," — the oldest part of the town, — which 
is even said to have given origin to the name Mas- 
ena, as I shall have occasion to describe further on. 
Besides beans ("m6njo"), and ground-nuts, called 
here "wiili" or " buli," salt too (" kasa"), owing to 
the presence of the Jelaba from Waday, some of whom 
I had met on my road, was very plentiful ; but it was 
only sold in very small portions. The same people also 
sold natron (" ngillu "), which is brought by the Tebu 
from the border of the desert. Milk ("si") and butter 
("biigu") were dear, but sour milk ("si chale") in 
abundance — it is principally brought into the town 
by the daughters of the Ben! Hassan. Honey 
("teji"), which in many countries is so plentiful, 
is scarcely to be got at all. There were always a 
few head of sheep and cattle, and sometimes a few 
