370 
TKAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXII. 
town, crossing on our path a shallow branch of the 
komadugu, overgrown with succulent herbage, and 
exhibiting a scene of busy life. 
The market was already well attended, and an- 
swered to its fame. As it is held every Thursday 
and Sunday, it is visited not only by people from Kii- 
kawa, but also from Kano*, for which reason European 
as well as Hausa manufactures are often cheaper in 
Uje than in Kukawa. This we found to be the case 
with common paper, " tre lune." The articles with 
which the market is provided from Kukawa are chiefly 
natron and salt ; and I myself bought here a good 
supply of this latter article, as it has a great value in 
A'damawa, and may be used as well for buying small 
objects as for presents. Uje, however, derives also 
great importance from the slave-trade, situated as it 
is on the border of several Pagan tribes ; and I have 
often heard it said that in the neighbourhood of Uje 
a husband will sell his wife, or a father his child, 
when in want of money : but this may be an exaggera- 
tion. It is true, however, that slaves who have run 
away from Kukawa are generally to be found here. 
There might be from five to six thousand customers ; 
but there would be many more, if any security were 
guaranteed to the visitors, from the many independent 
tribes who are living round about, especially the 
Margin, Babir, and Kerekere. But, as it is, I did not 
* The route from Kano to Uje passes by Katagum, from hence 
to Mesaw, five days ; from hence to Gujeba, eight days ; and from 
hence to Uje, five days — at a slow rate. 
