168 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXVI. 
ding, besides numbers of huts for his household and 
numerous wives, some spacious halls of clay, was 
of considerable extent; and the courtyard, shaded 
by a wide-spreading, luxuriant tamarind tree, was 
a very noble area. While we sat there awaiting 
the governor's pleasure, I had a fair insight into the 
concerns of this little court, all the well-fed, idle 
parasites coming in one after the other, and rivalling 
each other in trivial jokes. The Hausa language is 
the language of the court ; and the offices are similar 
to those which I mentioned above with regard to 
Kano. Having waited a long time in vain, the weak 
old man sending an excuse, as he could not grant us 
an interview, we returned to our quarters. 
To-day being Friday was market-day ; and in order 
to see the market in its greatest activity I mounted 
at noon on horseback, and went out. In all these 
parts of Negroland, the customs of which are in every 
respect so different from those of Yoruba and the 
neighbouring countries, the market (in Kukawa and 
Masena as well as in Kano, Sokoto, and even Tim- 
buktu) is always most frequented and most busy in 
the hottest hours of the day, notwithstanding the 
great fatigue which all the people, and particularly 
the strangers, have to undergo. 
The market of Giimmel is held outside the town, 
between the two gates on the west side, but nearer 
to the u chmria-n-yala " * (the northern gate), which is 
remarkable on account of its well-fortified condition. 
* " Clnnna-n-yala" is an interesting specimen of the corrup- 
