TRAVELS IN AFRICA 
127 
formed of poles and thatched with long dry 
grass ; the third and last are entirely composed 
of wood and dry grass, in the form of a half 
splaire. The doors of all are inconveniently 
low, particularly the latter, which is rendered 
the more unpleasant by its serving, at the same 
time, as door, window, and chimney. 
Those of Almamy, his son, nephew, and some 
of the princes, display the same variety of form, 
and, with the exception of being larger, are 
equally inconvenient. The interior of each of 
these palaces may contain about an English 
acre, divided, by low clay walls, into several 
small courts, in some of which are the chambers 
of their wives and concubines, and in others the 
magazines of arms, ammunition, merchandize, 
and corn. The exterior walls are about thirteen 
feet high, and are lined, nearly all round in- 
side, with a range of square clay hovels, serving 
as cooking places, stables, slave rooms, and 
other stores, all which have flat roofs, where, 
in case of attack, a number of armed men, the 
best marksmen, are placed, and being there de- 
fended by that part of the outside walls which 
rises above the roofs, in form of parapets, they 
can do much against an attacking enemy. 
At a short distance to the sw. are situated the 
ruins of a town nearly as large as Boolibany, and 
of which it at one time formed a part ; but was 
