JOURNEY FROM BOUSSA TO KANO. 
119 
thumbs, perfectly ready for war. I could not help being much 
amused at their uncalled for alarm ; and to prove to them how 
tranquil I felt, I dismounted from my horse, and sat quietly down 
on the baggage, ordering my servants to do the same. They pre- 
tended not to understand a word of the Houssa language ; for that 
they did not understand it was next to impossible, as not a town or 
village between this and Badagry occurred in which we did not 
find one or more that could speak that language ; and the Boussa 
messenger not having come up, we could not talk to them in the 
Nyffe tongue. For a little time silence prevailed, when all at once 
they seized on the baggage, each man taking something, until the 
whole was gone. I now re-mounted, with my servants, and fol- 
lowed. They ran along as fast as it was possible for them, and we 
rode after them ; at length we came to another village, where the 
people understood Houssa, and asked what I wanted. I said, to 
stop all night. These voluntary carriers however took up the 
baggage again, and crossing the May-yarrow by a wooden bridge, 
entered the town of Tabra, which is in fact the same town I had 
reached, the river dividing it into two parts. Having also crossed, 
I was taken with my things in front of the head man’s house ; where 
they questioned and cross-questioned me as to whether I was going 
to their king or not ; but to none of their questions did I think 
fit to give a direct answer. When they found I was not disposed 
to commit myself they carried my things to a house for the night. 
Here for the first time I had to buy wood, grass, and corn : they 
always asking, “Where is the money ?” before they would give me 
any thing. I sent Ali off to the chief of the F ellatas, with a letter 
addressed to Bello, as I find they leave Ivoolfu at day-break. I 
therefore missed them by being detained and humbugged on the 
road, through the manoeuvres of the taya, who was very anxious I 
should not see the Fellatas. 
Thursday, 13th. — The whole of this day was spent in expectation 
