Chap. XXX. 
CAMELS HORSES. 
315 
with the young leaves of the monkey-bread tree, "kalu 
kiika," or the " karas," or with a sauce made from 
dried fish. There are no sweet potatoes and no yams 
in this part of Bornu, the consequence of which is 
that the food of the natives is less varied than in 
Hausa, Kebbi, or Yoruba. Yams are brought to this 
country as rarities, and are given as presents to in- 
fluential persons. 
Camels sell at from eight to twenty dollars. When 
there is no caravan in preparation, a very tolerable 
beast may be bought for the former price ; but when 
a caravan is about to start, the best will fetch as much 
as twenty dollars — very rarely more ; and a good 
camel may always be had for about fifteen dollars. 
Some camels may be bought for four or five dollars 
each, but cannot be relied on. 
Very strong travelling horses for servants were 
during my first visit purchasable for from six to eight 
dollars, while an excellent horse would not fetch more 
than thirty dollars; but in the year 1854 the price had 
risen considerably, in consequence of the exportation 
of horses, which had formerly been forbidden, having 
been permitted, and great numbers having been ex- 
ported to the west — chiefly to Miiniyo, Katsena, and 
Maradi. A first-rate horse of foreign race, however, 
is much dearer, and will sometimes fetch as much as 
three hundred dollars. I shall have another opportu- 
nity of speaking of the horses of Bornu, which is rather 
an interesting and important subject, as the breed is 
excellent, and, besides being very handsome and of 
