Chap. XXVI. DEPARTURE FROM KANO'. 149 
afternoon, I mounted my unsightly black four-dollar 
nag, and following my companion, who (in a showy 
dress, representing very nearly the German costume 
about the time of the Thirty Years' war, and well 
mounted), gave himself all possible airs of dignity, 
started forth from the narrow streets of Dala into the 
open fields. 
I felt my heart lightened, and, forgetting what had 
passed, began to think only of the wide field now open- 
ing before me, if fresh means should reach us in Kii- 
kawa. We had taken a very circuitous road in order 
to pass through the widest of the fourteen gates of 
the town : but the long passage through the wall was 
too narrow for my unwieldy luggage ; and my im- 
patient, self-conceited companion fell into despair, 
seeing that we should be unable to reach the night's 
quarters destined for us. At length all was again 
placed upon the patient animals ; and my noble Bu- 
Sefi taking the lead of the short string of my caravan, 
we proceeded onwards, keeping at a short distance 
from the wall, till we reached the highroad from the 
kofa-n-Wambay. Here too is a considerable estate 
belonging to a ba-A'sbenchi (a man from A'sben), 
who has a company of slaves always residing here. 
Going slowly on through the well-cultivated country, 
we reached a small watercourse. Being anxious to 
know in what direction the torrent had its discharge, 
and unable to make it out from my own observa- 
tion, I took the liberty of asking my companion ; 
i< 3 
