40 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXIII. 
tion to the tracks of the elephant, of whose existence 
in the more northern regions we had not hitherto 
seen the slightest trace — so that this seems to be the 
limit of its haunts on this side ; and it was shortly 
afterwards that Gajere descried in the distance a 
living specimen making slowly off to the east ; but my 
sight was not strong enough to distinguish it. Thus 
we entered the thicker part of the forest, and about 
half-past four in the afternoon reached the site of the 
large town of Dankama, whither Magajin Haddedu, 
the king of Katsena, had retired after his residence 
had been taken by the Fulbe, and from whence he 
waged unrelenting but unsuccessful war against the 
bloody-minded enemies of the religious as well as po- 
litical independence of his country. Once, indeed, 
the Fulbe were driven out of Katsena; but they soon 
returned with renewed zeal and with a fresh army, 
and the Hausa prince was expelled from his ancient 
capital for ever. After several battles Dankama, 
whither all the nobility and wealth of Katsena had 
retired, was taken, ransacked, and burnt. 
A solitary colossal kuka* (baobab), representing 
in its huge, leafless, and gloomy frame the sad recol- 
lections connected with the spot, shoots out from the 
prickly underwood which thickly overgrows the lo- 
* It has been remarked by travellers that this tree is only found 
near some dwelling-place of man ; but I doubt whether we are 
authorized to regard all those specimens of it which are scattered 
over the wilds of Central Africa, as marking the site of former 
towns. 
