392 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. L. 
people immediately connected with the court. The 
market-place is rather small, and not provided with 
a single stall, the people being obliged to protect 
themselves as well as they can, by forming a new tem- 
porary shed every market-day. The most interesting 
aspect is afforded by the beda, or bahr, which is 
bordered on the south-west side by a few picturesque 
groups of dum-palms and other trees of fine foliage, 
while at the western end, near the market-place, there 
is a large extent of kitchen-gardens, as well as near 
the south-eastern extremity. In consequence of the 
peculiar nature of the beda, the direct communication 
between the northern and southern quarters, which 
during the dry season is kept up by a good path, 
seems to be occasionally interrupted during the rains. 
The construction of the houses in general is good, 
and the thatchwork of the roofs formed with great 
care, and even with neatness ; but the clay is of rather 
a bad description for building, and the clay houses 
afford so little security during the rainy season, that 
most people prefer residing during that part of the 
year in the huts of reeds and straw : and I myself had 
sufficient opportunity of becoming acquainted with 
the frail character of these structures. There are, 
however, some pretty-looking houses on the road to 
A'bu-Gher. 
The walls of the town, in most places, are in a state 
of great decay, so that the gates in reality have lost 
all importance ; nevertheless there are still nine gates, 
or rather openings, in use. Most of them lie on the 
