JOURNEY FROM BOUSSA TO KANO. 
1 0Q 
J. /v/w 
The two parts may contain from eighteen to twenty thousand in- 
habitants ; they are the occasional residence of the Magia, who has 
a house here ; and it is also the place of his birth. His mother during 
his absence is considered as governor assisted by the sirtam facia, 
or master of the ceremonies. There appears to be plenty of sheep 
and goats, and plantations of yams, plantains, calavances, millet, 
and limes. The river is always full of water, and may be about 
twenty yards broad, shaded with large trees ; the banks rise with a 
gentle ascent from the river, and are planted with yams, millet, &c. 
There are only a few blacksmiths, but a great number of weavers. 
The inhabitants, with a few exceptions, are pagans, and they all, men 
and women, have the reputation of being great drunkards. The 
Houssa caravans pass close to the north side of the town, but seldom 
halt here. It was deserted last year, when Edrisi was driven here 
with his army ; the inhabitants flying to Ingastrie in Youri, and to 
the province of Wawa ; but are now mostly returned. 
Sunday, 16 th. — I was visited by the sirtain fada this morning, 
who had just returned from seeing the Fellatas safe out of Koolfu : 
he told me that the Benin people, before the civil war began, came 
here to trade ; that the Quorra ran into the sea, behind Benin, at 
Fundah ; that the Nyffe people and those of Benin were the same 
people ; that Benin paid tribute to Nyffe — (this is common with all 
negroes, to exalt their native country above all others, in their ac- 
counts to strangers). He said they got their salt from a town called 
Affaga, near the sea : this is the Laro or Alaro of Yourriba, and in 
possession of the Fellatas. In the evening an eunuch, a messenger, 
arrived from the king, to take me to the Sanson, or gathering-place, 
where he was ; and to stop the taya. 
Monday, 17 th. — This morning a messenger of the king of Youri 
arrived, bringing me a present of a camel, to assist in carrying my 
baggage to Kano. He said the king, before he left Youri, had shown 
him two books, very large, and printed, that had belonged to the white 
