210 
GURASU. 
off one as big" as itself. The brute seizes its prey 
by the throat, and so prevents the animal from 
giving intelligence to its pursuers. The place of 
execution is near my house, and when the Sultan 
executes any criminal the body is left unburiecl. 
At such times, troops of hyaenas, old and young, 
come down in the night, from the rocks and open 
country, and devour the body in a few minutes. 
The jackal does not visit this place, but is found in 
the open country. There are also many lions on 
the road between this and Kuka. 
A very simple mode of salutation is prevalent 
here in Zinder, said to be the custom of Wadai — 
that of merely clapping the palms of the hand 
together; the hand being held forward flat, not 
edge-ways. 
Gurasu is an interesting Tuarick territory, three 
days' journey north-east from Zinder, and two 
days from Minyo. This country consists of a num- 
ber of small villages, scattered upon the rocks, or 
mountains. The inhabitants are especially those ban- 
ditti who, from time to time, plunder the caravans 
on the route from Bornou to Mourzuk. Gurasu is 
seven clays from Kanem, and Kanem is three days 
from the Bornou route. Kanem is mostly a desert 
country, and has now only a few inhabitants. 
Gurasu and Damerghou are the only Tuarick 
countries adjoining the provinces of the Sheikh of 
Bornou, and Gurasu is the last country east in this 
