HOUSEHOLD GODS OF ZINDER. 
251 
The shonshona of Gouber is very faint, and con- 
sists of nine very small cuts. 
Gouber is full of Tuaricks, Kilgris, and Iteesan. 
It is said the Sarkee will bring an immense number 
of Hazna, or pagans, with him, on his return from 
the razzia. 
29th. — At sunrise, when the thermometer is at 
57°, I feel the cold. I am told that, though Kuka is 
very hot, it is quite free from fever, — in fact, from all 
periodic epidemics. So we may expect to do well, 
if we escape the fever of Soudan. 
The household gods of Zinder are a large species 
of lizard, who make their dwelling-places in the 
walls and roofs of the huts. These are in great num- 
bers. Cats are the principal nuisance and the thieves 
of the place — attacking and devouring fowls. Of rats 
and mice I have observed none. But few small birds 
show themselves. The small filthy vulture is every- 
where, and a few eagles of a diminutive white species 
are seen amongst them. Some few dogs are kept, 
ill-looking and mongrel in their breed. The do- 
mestic cattle are horses, asses, oxen, sheep and 
goats, and a few camels. 
The life of the male population of Zinder seems 
to pass in dreamy indolence, varied continually by 
the excitement of a razzia. The women divide 
their time between the kitchen and the toilette. No 
amusement is sought, except from drum-beating and 
the attendant dance. Thus time lapses with these 
black citizenso As for the foreign merchants and 
