Chap. XXV. 
MOUNT DALA'. 
Ill ■ 
where human life in its varied forms, the most cheer- 
ful and the most gloomy, seemed closely mixed toge- 
ther ; every variety of national form and complexion 
— the olive-coloured Arab, the dark Kaniiri, with 
his wide nostrils, the small-featured, light, and slender 
Ba-Fellanchi, the broad-faced Ba-Wangara (Man- 
dingo), the stout, large-boned, and masculine-looking 
Nupe female, the well-proportioned and comely Ba- 
Haushe woman. 
Delighted with my trip, and deeply impressed 
by the many curious and interesting scenes which 
had presented themselves to my eyes, I returned 
by way of the " lingwa-n-makafi," or " belad el 
amiyan" (the village of the blind), to my quarters, 
the gloominess and cheerlessness of which made the 
more painful impression upon me from its contrast 
with the brightly animated picture which I had just 
before enjoyed. 
The next day I made another long ride through 
the town ; and being tolerably well acquainted with 
the topography of the place and its different quarters, 
I enjoyed still more the charming view obtained from 
the top of the Dala, and of which the accompanying 
sketch is but a feeble representation.* 
* The very strong wind, which I had always the misfortune to 
encounter when ascending Mount Dala, did not allow me to enter 
into all the details of the sketch, which would be requisite to give 
a true picture of the variety of the scene ; and the glowing, lively 
tone spread over the whole has been inadequately caught by the 
artist. I must also observe that the southern quarter of the town, 
which is at too great a distance from this hill to be discernible, is 
far more picturesque than the northern one. 
