Chap. XXX. PRICES OF PROVISIONS. 313 
acknowledged that the necessaries of life are cheaper 
there than in any other place which I have visited in 
Central Africa, almost half as cheap again as in Ka- 
tsena and Sokoto, a third cheaper than in Kano, and 
about a fourth cheaper than in Timbuktu. About the 
cheapness of meat and com in the latter place, which 
is indeed a very remarkable fact, and struck me with 
the utmost surprise when I first reached that cele- 
brated town, I shall speak in the proper place. But 
I must remark that dukhn, argiim moro, or mil- 
let (Pennisetum typhoideum), is in greater quantity, 
and therefore cheaper, in Kukawa than the durra or 
sorghum, "ngaberi," just as it is in Timbuktu and Kano, 
while in Bagirmi durra is much cheaper. The nga- 
beri of Bornu, however, particularly that kind of it 
which is called matiya, and which is distinguished by 
its whiteness, is most excellent ; and the " senasin," a 
kind of thin pancake prepared from this grain, is the 
lightest and best food for a European in this country. 
Of course the price of corn varies greatly according 
to the season, the lowest rates ruling about a month 
or two after the harvest, when all the corn in the 
country has been thrashed, and the highest rates just 
about the harvest time. In general a dollar will 
purchase in Kukawa three ox-loads, 16 katkun kne- 
mube," of argiim ; a dollar and a half will buy a very 
good ox of about six hundred pounds' weight; two dol- 
lars fetch a pack ox (" knemu"), or a milch-cow ( u fe 
madarabe"); one dollar, two good sheep; from seven- 
teen to twenty rotls, a "tendu" of butter, contain- 
