128 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. III. 
are in such numbers, that parts of the country appear literally 
covered with them. Great quantities of elephants' teeth are pro- 
cured in the woods. 
All the accounts of this country agree in one material point, 
namely, that though called Bahr, there is no river ; but that there 
has been one of great magnitude. Immense bones of unknown 
animals and fish are frequently found here in a state of petrifaction. 
The Arabs account for this, by saying, " They went to take them up 
as bones, but by a deception of Iblis they proved to be stones." 
Handsome shells, Beit el Khoot, c^.^iir! or " fishes' houses," are 
often found imbedded in the earth, and retaining a fine polish. 
Some are so large, that the Negroes make trumpets of them. By 
their description of the bones and vertebra^, some of the fish must 
have been ten or twelve feet in length. 
Battaha, which is often called Bahr, appears by some accounts 
to be near Bahr el Ghazal, while others assert that it is part of it. 
The same accounts of its having once been a river, and of petrified 
bones being found in it, are generally believed. 
Eornou is governed by a Sultan, who is considered very power- 
ful ; but of late years he has allowed the Sheikh of Kanem (which 
country is dependant) to encroach upon his authority. The 
Sheikh, who is a great Maraboot, never uses gold or silver in his 
apparel, and confines himself to four wives ; but has several female 
slaves, who have borne him a multitude of children. He is con- 
stantly making war, under the plea of religion, against the neigh- 
bouring Kaffirs, and has enriched himself by the immense number 
of slaves and horses which he has taken. He lives at Kanem, in 
the chief town Maoo, which is fifteen days north-north-east of 
Birnie : his name is El Hadge el Ameen. All the traders from 
Fezzan carry him presents, and consider him as a far greater man 
than his master, who now lives in a very retired manner. 
In Kanem, within one day of Maoo (the capital), is a very large 
