Chap. LXX. POINTS IN THE TRADE OF GU'RO NUTS. 29 
only became aware of three distinctions being made, 
viz. the tin6ro, or Tino liro, "liro" being the corre- 
sponding Songhay name for giiro, and Tino, or Tina, 
the name of a district ; then the kind called siga ; and 
thirdly, that called fdra-fara. 
As regards Selga, the district to which the Hdusa 
traders go for their supply of this article, three 
points are considered essential to the business of the 
kola trade; first, that the people of Mosi bring 
their asses ; secondly, that the Tondwa, or natives of 
Asanti, bring the nut in sufficient quantities ; and 
thirdly, that the state of the road is such as not 
to prevent the Hdusa people from arriving. If one 
of these conditions is wanting, the trade is not flourish- 
ing. The price of the asses rises with the cheapness 
of the giiro. The average price of an ass in the 
market of Selga is 15,000 shells; while in Hausa 
the general price does not exceed 5000. But the fa- 
taki, or native traders, take only as many asses v/ith 
them from Hausa as are necessary for transporting 
their luggage, as the toll, or fitto, levied upon each 
ass by the petty chiefs on the road, is very con- 
siderable. From 5000 to 6000 guro, or k6Ia nuts, 
constitute an ass load. 
Selga, the market-place for this important article, 
being, it appears, a most miserable town, where even 
water is very scarce and can only be purchased at an 
exorbitant price, the merchants always manage to 
make their stay here as short as possible, awaiting 
the proper season in Yendi, a town said to be as large 
