84 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXIV. 
continent. Its productions are varied and rich, 
though its elevated situation seems unfavourable to 
the growth of cotton. But, on the other side, useful 
trees seem to be more numerous in this district than 
in any other under the same latitude ; and the ayaba 
or banana, and the g6nda or papaya, are found in 
many favoured spots, while the dorowa or Parkia, the 
tsamia or tamarind, and the kadena, or the Shea 
butter-tree (Bassia Parkii), are the most common trees 
everywhere, and very often form thick clusters. As 
I shall have to describe the western districts in the 
narrative of my journey to Sokoto, in 1853, I now 
proceed with my route to Kano. 
Thursday ^ was extremely glad when, after a long 
January 30th. J e ] a y — f or we h a d been obliged to wait 
more than an hour for the poor nag presented to me 
by the governor, — we reached the south-eastern gate 
of the town, the " kofa-n-Kaura." It was as if I had 
just escaped from a prison, and I drew my breath 
deeply as I inhaled the fresh air outside the wall. 
I should have carried with me a very unfavourable 
impression of Katsena, if it had not been my destiny 
to visit this place again under more favourable cir- 
cumstances ; and I should have obtained a very false 
idea of the character of the Fulbe, if, from the little 
experience which I had acquired in this place, I had 
% formed a definitive judgment of them. 
On the southern side of the town there is at present 
no cultivated ground ; but the whole country is in a 
wild state, covered with brushwood. What we saw 
