ADAMSES NARRATIVE. 
473 
closure, where it pays a duty. M. Dupuis gene- 
rally confirms this, but seems of opinion that the 
enclosure must be much larger than Adams re- 
presents it. He says it is called the kusba, 
or citadel, and that not only the merchandise, 
but the merchants, are frequently accommodated 
within it. Both the king and queen were old and 
grey headed, the queen immensely fat. Her dress 
consisted of blue nankeen, edged with gold lace, 
and reached only a few inches below the knee. 
Her head dress was a blue nankeen turban, worn 
only on occasions of ceremony. She wore no shoes, 
in consequence of which, her feet appeared as hard 
and dry " as the hoofs of an ass." She wore be- 
sides a profusion of ornaments of very white bone, 
(ivory ?) large ear-rings, and necklaces of gold. The 
king's dress was a blue nankeen frock, profusely 
ornamented with gold. He had about thirty arm- 
ed attendants, who remained constantly by him. 
In walking the streets, his subjects saluted him by 
touching his head with their hands, and then kiss- 
ing them. He, as well as all his principal officers, 
were negroes, and Tombuctoo appeared to Adams 
completely a negro city. On this fact, so remark- 
able and soo little expected, some observations will 
be made at the end of this chapter. 
The natives of Tombuctoo are a vigorous and 
healthy race, and expose themselves, without in- 
jury, to the most intense action of the sun. They 
