Chap. XXVI. ARRIVAL AT GE'rKI. 
163 
return-journey, however, in 1854, when I was quite 
alone with my party, I was less fortunate, a most 
enterprising thief returning thrice to his task, and 
carrying away, one after the other, first the tobe, 
then the trowsers, and finally the cap from one of my 
people. 
Not waiting for the new horseman whom Thursday 
I was to receive here early in the morning, March 13th - 
I went on in advance with my companion, in order 
to reach Giimmel before the heat of the day ; and we 
soon met in the forest a string of twelve camels, all 
laden with kurdi or shells, and belonging to the rich 
Arab merchant Bu-hema, who resides in Muniyo, and 
carries on a considerable commerce between Kano 
and Kukawa. I will here mention, that in general 
100,000 kurdi are regarded as a camel-load ; fine 
animals, however, like these will carry as much 
as a hundred and fifty thousand, that is, just sixty 
dollars or twelve pounds' worth. It is easy to be 
understood that, where the standard coin is of so un- 
wieldy a nature, the commerce of the country cannot 
be of great value. 
About two miles before we reached the frontier- 
town of the Bornu empire in this direction, we 
were joined by the horseman of the governor of 
Gerki ; and we here took leave of H&usa with its 
fine and beautiful country, and its cheerful and in- 
dustrious population. It is remarkable what a dif- 
ference there is between the character of the ba- 
Haushe and the Kaniiri — the former lively, spirited, 
M 2 
