306 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXX. 
variety of colour, according to their age, from the 
brightest yellow down to the deepest black. All 
around these two towns there are small villages or 
clusters of huts, and large detached farms surrounded 
with clay walls, low enough to allow a glimpse from 
horseback over the thatched huts which they inclose. 
In this labyrinth of dwellings a man, interested in 
the many forms which human life presents, may rove 
about at any time of the day with the certainty of 
finding never-failing amusement, although the life of 
the Kaniiri people passes rather monotonously along, 
with the exception of some occasional feasting. 
During the hot hours, indeed, the town and its pre- 
cincts become torpid, except on market-days, when 
the market-place itself, at least, and the road leading 
to it from the western gate, are most animated just 
at that time. For, singular as it is, in Kukawa, as 
well as almost all over this part of JSTegroland, the 
great markets do not begin to be well attended till 
the heat of the day grows intense; and it is curious 
to observe what a difference prevails in this as well 
as in other respects between these countries and 
Y6ruba, where almost all the markets are held in the 
cool of the evening. 
The daily little markets, or durriya, even in Kukawa, 
are held in the afternoon, and are most frequented 
between the aser (lasari) and the mughreb (alma- 
gribu) or sunset. The most important of these dur- 
riyas is that held inside the west gate of the billa 
futebe ; and here even camels, horses, and oxen are 
