Chap. XXX. THE GREAT MARKET. 
307 
sold in considerable numbers : but they are much 
inferior to the large fair, or great market, which is 
held every Monday on the open ground beyond the 
two villages which lie at a short distance from the 
western gate. Formerly it was held on the road to 
Ngornu, before the southern gate ; but it has been re- 
moved from thence, on account of the large pond of 
water formed during the rainy season in the hollow 
close to this gate. 
I visited the great fair, " kasukii leteninbe," every 
Monday immediately after my arrival, and found it 
very interesting, as it calls together the inhabitants of 
all the eastern parts of Bornu, the Shuwa and the Ko- 
yam, with their corn and butter, the former, though of 
Arab origin and still preserving in purity his ancient 
character, always carrying his merchandise on the 
back of oxen, the women mounted upon the top of it, 
while the African Koyam employs the camel, if not ex- 
clusively, at least with a decided preference* ; the Ka- 
nembu with their butter and dried fish, the inhabit- 
ants of Makari with their tobes (the kore berne): even 
Biidduma, or rather Yedina, are very often seen in 
the market, selling whips made from the skin of the 
hippopotamus, or sometimes even hippopotamus meat, 
or dried fish, and attract the attention of the spectator 
by their slender figures, their small handsome features 
unimpaired by any incisions, the men generally wear- 
* This custom, I think, confirms the opinion that the Koyam 
migrated from Kanem into Bornu. They are expressly called 
" ahel el ML* 
x 2 
