Chap. XXXIII. SITUATION OF THE VILLAGE. 407 
who received the least proof of hospitality; and I 
made myself quite comfortable, though we thought 
it best to look well after our firearms. During the 
night we were alarmed by a great noise, proceeding 
from the frightful shrieks of a man ; and, on inquiry, 
we found that he had been disturbed in his sleep by a 
hyaena catching hold of one of his legs. Ibrahima 
informed us the next morning, that a very large party 
among the inhabitants had entertained the design of 
falling during the night upon our troop and plunder- 
ing us; and that nothing but the earnest representa- 
tions of 'Ashi had restrained them from carrying out 
their intention, — the old man showing them how im- 
prudent it would be, by one and the same act to draw 
upon themselves the vengeance of their two over- 
whelming neighbours, the sheikh of B6rnu in the 
north, and the governor of Fiiinbind in the south. 
Altogether the night was not very tranquil ; and a 
storm breaking out at some distance, I crept into 
the hut, but there was no rain, only thunder and 
lightning. All the huts here are provided with a 
serir, or diggel, made of branches, upon which a 
coarse mat of reeds is spread. 
The village seems not to be very large, containing 
certainly not more than about five hundred single 
huts, but the situation is very advantageous, enabling 
the inhabitants in an instant to retire upon the natu- 
ral fortress of blocks overhead. They possess scarcely 
a single cow, but seem to prepare a great deal of vege- 
