ZINDER. 
219 
people sacrificed their oxen and sheep to the deity, 
who was supposed to reside in these trees. Scarcely 
a generation has elapsed since this was the case, 
so that the people may well dread to venture where, 
in the time of old men yet living, sacrifices, some 
perhaps human, were offered up. 
The Sheikh is obliged to keep a tight hand over 
the inhabitants of Zinder, to prevent them from 
lapsing into paganism. His father made them 
Muslims, and he holds them to the profession of 
Islamism. 
No news from Tesaoua respecting the four 
persons who were sent to bring Drs. Barth and 
Overweg first to Bornou, before they went to 
Soudan. I have had several patients, but ophthal- 
mia does not prevail here as in Damerghou. 
A constant succession of visitors troubled me all 
day long. Another son of the Sultan came this 
morning — quite a young man — and a dozen of boys 
from the palace, some sons of the Sultan, and 
others of his ministers. I gave them all a little 
piece of white sugar, and sent them off. This is 
the cheapest present. 
I am told that all the Tuaricks are dreadfully 
afraid of the Sultan of Zinder, for whenever his 
highness catches an offender, let him be of what 
tribe of Tuaricks he may, he cuts off his head with 
as much unconcern as a poulterer of Leadenhall 
market does that of a goose. 
I hear now that, since the dispersion of the 
