156 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IV. 
Medaas. Ornamental sandals of exquisite workmanship, for 
men and women. 
Keldbo. These are the ox hides just mentioned, and are sold in 
Fezzan for five or six dollars each. 
Gerbas. Or water skins, made of goats' hides ; they are con- 
sidered the best in Africa, are very large and tight, and are worth 
three dollars each. 
El Khaaf. The blue wrappers which form part of the head- 
dress of the Tuarick. 
Ostrich skins with the feathers on. 
Honey. Yellow and white, and very good. 
Goor, KoUa, or Gooroo nuts. They are brought fresh inclosed 
in a particular leaf, which retains its moisture for several days ; if 
occasionally dipped in water, the nut will remain fresh for months. 
The taste is an agreeable bitter ; and water drank after chewing a 
piece of one appears quite sweet, resembhng the flavour of an arti- 
choke. In Morzouk this luxury sells at the rate of four nuts for a 
dollar. They are about the size of a walnut, and shaped like a large 
bean. It is said, that in certain years when the nut has been scarce, 
people in Soudan have given a slave for one of them. They are 
the produce of Dagomba, Ashantee, and several countries west 
of Tembuctoo : I conceive they may be the KoUa nut of Park. 
When in a dry state, much of their bitterness ceases, and they 
resemble a dry chesnut ; they are then less valuable, and are called 
Kowda. These dainties are offered to visitors as coffee is on 
the coast of Barbary : many people call them the negro's coffee. 
Pepper. Red, of two kinds ; and three or four sorts of black, 
one of which resembles the pod of a vetch or tare. 
Tammei'at el filfil. A large pod, in shape resembling a walnut, 
and containing many smaU seeds of a very pungent taste, equal to 
Cayenne pepper. 
