386 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XLIX. 
was particularly anxious to obtain a sight of that 
small branch of the river which, having separated 
from the principal trunk near the town of Miltii, 
approaches to within about nine miles of the capital. 
But the lieutenant-governor would not allow me to 
leave the place, neither would he suffer me to visit 
A'bii-Gher, which is situated at about the same distance 
in a N.N.W. direction, and where a considerable 
market is held every Saturday, although I told him 
that it was essential for me to go, in order to procure 
there my necessary supplies ; and I was therefore 
obliged to content myself with sending my servants. 
They found the market of A'bii-Gher of about the 
same importance as the little market or durriya in 
Kiikawa, with this exception, that cattle were more 
numerous in A'bii-Gher; and they counted about a 
hundred head of large beasts, and about the same 
number of sheep. There was a great deal of sorghum 
and cotton, but little Guinea corn or millet. Besides 
tobes, hoes for field-labour, cowries, and natron from 
the Bahr el Ghaz&l form the principal commodities. 
As a sort of curiosity, my servants mentioned a kind 
of bread or tiggra made of the fruit of the hajilij or 
Balanites JEgyptiaca (the " bito " of the Kaniiri), and 
called " sfrne." As a specimen of the great diversity 
of individual manners which prevails in these regions, 
I will here mention that the farda in A'bii-Gher, which 
is the standard currency of the market, is different 
from that used in Mas-ena, measuring three dra in 
length and one hand in width. The village of A'bii- 
