Chap. XXIV, 
kusa'da. 
89 
with thieves, and great caution is necessary at night: 
the Tin-neggaru last night killed a thief, who was 
attempting to carry off a loaf of salt. 
After a march of about two miles and a Saturday 
half, over clayey ground greatly broken up February 1st, 
by the rains, we reached the N.W. corner of the consi- 
derable town Kusada, and continued along its western 
wall, where a group of very tall and majestic rimis 
{Bombax or Eriodendron Guineense), though at present 
leafless, formed a most conspicuous object. It is very 
singular and highly characteristic, that this tree (the 
bentang-tree of Mungo Park) generally grows near 
the principal gate of the large towns in Hausa, while 
otherwise it is not frequent, at least not the large 
full-grown specimens ; and it is not improbable that 
the natives purposely planted them in those places as 
a kind of way mark — or perhaps it may be a remnant 
of their pagan customs, this tree being deemed holy 
by several pagan tribes. It is almost incredible at 
what an immense distance these stupendous trees, the 
tallest of the vegetable kingdom, may be seen. 
Kusada is a town of importance, and is very little 
less than Gazawa, though not so thickly inhabited; the 
wall of the town is in tolerably good repair, and the 
interior is rich in trees, making it look very cheerful 
and comfortable. Most of the huts consist of clay 
walls, with a thatched roof, which is certainly the 
mode of architecture best adapted to the climate and 
the whole nature of the country. 
When leaving the south side of this town we were 
