Chap. LXXXI. MARKET OF SAY. 
297 
The market was, in many respects, better provided 
than on our outward journey; but with this advantage 
was coupled the great disadvantage to me personally 
that a large troop of Hdusa traders having recently 
arrived and richly supplied the market with the 
manufactures of that region, the prices at present 
ranged much lower, and for the very best indigo- 
dyed shirt, I obtained only 6000 shells, while two 
others did not fetch more than 2000 each. Millet 
was plentiful, although by no means cheap, the third 
part of a suniye, or twenty-four measures of Tim- 
buktu, being sold for 4000 shells, consequently twice 
or thrice as dear as in the latter place ; but there 
was hardly any rice. There was not a single sheep 
in the market, nor any horned cattle, either for 
slaughtering or for carrying burdens ; nor were 
there any dodowa cakes or tamarinds ; nay, even 
the fruit of the monkey-bread tree, or kiika, was 
wanting; the only small luxury which was to be 
found in the market, besides the fruit of the diim- 
palm, consisting of fresh onions, certainly a great 
comfort in these reo:ions. 
Such is the miserable character of this market, 
which, in such a position, situated on the shore of 
this magnificent river, and on the principal highroad 
between Eastern and Western Negroland, ought to 
be of primary importance. It was with great delight 
that the^ feeble but well-meaning governor listened to 
my discourse, when, on taking leave, I led him to 
hope that an English steamer would, please God, soon 
