124 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXV. 
ancient Greeks and Eomans. I here give the ground- 
plan of the house in which I lodged in 1851. 
1. Large public yard common to the two houses, with 
two huts. 
2. Irregular apartment where I was to reside, as it was 
— least wanting in light and air. 
3. Dark room without any current of air, but to which I 
5 was obliged to withdraw when suffering from fever. 
4. Storeroom, 
e 5. Inner private yard. 
6. Closet. 
Almost all these houses have also a very irregular 
upper story on a different level, and very badly aired. 
Many of the Arabs sleep on their terraces. 
In estimating the population of the town at 30,000, 
I am certainly not above the truth. Captain Clap- 
perton estimated it at from 30,000 to 40,000. 
The population, as might be expected in a place of 
great commercial resort, is of a rather mixed nature ; 
but the chief elements in it are Kaniiri or Bornu people, 
Hausawa, Fiilbe or Fellani, and NyfFawa or Niipe ; a 
good many Arabs also reside there, who by their com- 
merce and their handicraft contribute a great deal to 
the importance of the place. The influx of foreigners 
and temporary residents is occasionally very great, 
so that the whole number of residents during the - 
most busy time of the year (that is to say from 
January to April) may often amount to 60,000. 
The number of domestic slaves, of course, is very 
considerable ; but I think it hardly equals, certainly 
does not exceed, that of the free men, for, while the 
wealthy have many slaves, the poorer class, which is 
