46 
C A B R A. 
neighbourhood of Cabra prevents the inhabitants from cul- 
tivating rice ; and the sandy soil on the north is unfit for 
growing millet. The Moors from Adrar, in whose boat I 
had come from the great port, having unloaded the canoe, 
placed their goods in a store -house, until they should be 
ready to convey them to the city. The inhabitants of Cabra 
let their magazines to merchants, who wish to deposit their 
goods in the town ; and they also let out asses for carrying 
loads to Timbuctoo. 
I went out to take a view of the interior of the village. 
The streets are narrow, but neat. I saw several female 
traders, and from one of them I bought a little milk and 
a loaf of wheaten flour, which cost me twenty cowries. 1 
made a hearty breakfast, for I had not tasted any thing all 
day, I had not cause to think much of the honesty of 
the woman from whom I made the purchase, for she wanted 
to make me pay twice. 1 was foolish enough to pay her 
beforehand ; it is the custom in this country to lay the value 
of what is bought on the basket in which the goods lie, 
and the money is not removed until the article is in the 
hands of the purchaser. This precaution does not say much 
for the honesty of either buyers or sellers. 
I saw in the port a number of large canoes undergoing 
repair. The owners are accustomed, as soon as the boats are 
unladen, to draw them on shore, where they are supported on 
large round blocks of wood, which keep them a little elevated 
from the ground. Were it not for this prudent practice, the 
cords with which the planks are fastened together would very 
quickly rot. The little port of Cabra extends east and west 
for the space of half a mile, being about sixty paces broad. 
It would be a very useful place, were it kept in better order ; 
but it is very dirty and full of mud. Numbers of men and 
women are always ready in the port to load and unload the 
vessels. This was the day for celebrating the conclusion of 
the Ramadan. The inhabitants were dancing and indulging 
