132 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXV. 
tures are exported, as a greater number are carried 
away by small caravans to Bornu and Niipe than on 
the direct road to Ghat and Fezzan. Altogether, I do 
not think that the number of slaves annually exported 
from Kano exceeds* 5,000 ; but of course a consider- 
able number are sold into domestic slavery either to 
the inhabitants of the province itself, or to those of the 
adjoining districts. The value of this trade, of which 
only a small percentage falls to the profit of the 
Kanawa, besides the tax which is levied in the market, 
may altogether amount to from a hundred and fifty to 
two hundred millions of kurdi per annum. 
Another important branch of the commerce of 
Kano is the transit of natron from Bornu to Nupe or 
Nyffi, which here always passes into other hands, 
and in so doing leaves a considerable profit in the 
place. The merchandise is very cheap; but the 
quantity is great, and it employs a great many per- 
sons, as I shall have ample occasion to illustrate in 
the course of my proceedings. Twenty thousand 
loads, at the very least, between pack-oxen, sumpter- 
horses, and asses, of natron must annually pass 
through the market of Kano ; which, at 500 kurdi 
per load, merely for passage-money, would give 
10,000,000 kurdi. 
1 here also mention the salt-trade, which is entirely 
an import one, the salt being almost all consumed in 
the province. Of the three thousand camel-loads of 
* This trade will now be greatly affected by the abolition of the 
slave-trade in Tripoli- 
