Chap. XXV. 
FIRE-ARMS.— KAZORS. 
139 
the neighbouring Tarki tribes, but also the Hausawa, 
Fulbe, NyfFawa, and Kaniiri or Bornu people, are 
supplied from this market. Fifty thousand may be 
the general annual amount of this article, which 
produces (the blade being reckoned at one thousand 
kurdi) fifty millions. Almost all of them that I saw, 
not only here, but even among the Tawarek near Tim- 
buktu, were from Solingen. Only a small proportion 
of the import remains in the country ; but the setting 
of the blades, which are again exported, secures a 
great profit to the natives. 
Very few fire-arms, as far as I became aware, 
are imported into this market, although common 
muskets have begun to be imported by way of Nyfii 
at extraordinarily cheap prices by the Americans. 
Pistols and blunderbusses are privately sold by the 
merchants to princes or great men. 
The common razors, made in Styria, with black 
wooden handles, bad as they are, are very much 
liked by the inhabitants, who know how to sharpen 
them most beautifully, and strengthen the wretched 
handle with a guard of copper. I had a tolerable 
supply of English razors, and found that those bought 
for sixpence at home would sell profitably, but that 
nobody would give, for a good razor, though ever so 
excellent, more than one thousand kurdi ; however, 
the better sort are very fit for presents to men of 
importance, who know well their value. In any case 
the handles ought to be strong, and not likely to 
