Chap. XXXI. 
SLAVE TRADE. 
339 
weak horse, such as I was then riding. My horse, 
though it had recovered a little from its lameness, 
and was getting strength from a course of dumplings 
made of the husk of Negro corn mixed with natron, 
which it had to swallow every morning and evening, 
was anything but a good charger; and having pre- 
viously determined to look about for a better horse, I 
was only confirmed in my intention by the obser- 
vation of the experienced merchant. 
This was one of the largest slave caravans which 
departed during my stay in Bornu ; for, if I am not 
mistaken, there were seven hundred and fifty slaves 
in the possession of the merchants who went with it. 
Slaves are as yet the principal export from Bornu, 
and will be so till the slave trade on the north coast 
is abolished.* 
Overweg had not yet arrived, although we had 
received information that he was on his way directly 
from Zinder, having given up his intention of visiting 
Kano. Before I set out on my journey to Adamawa, 
it was essential that I should confer with him about 
many things, and particularly as to what he himself 
should first undertake, but the rainy season was fast 
approaching even here, while in Adamawa it had set 
in long ago, and it seemed necessary that I should 
not delay any longer. In the afternoon of the fifth 
of May, we had the first unmistakeable token of the 
rainy season — a few heavy claps of thunder fol- 
* This is now really the case. I shall speak of the articles 
of trade in Bornu at the end of my work. 
z 2 
