JOURNEY FROM BOUSSA TO KANO. 
135 
one of the white men was a tall man with long hair ; that they 
fought for three days before they were all killed ; that the people 
in the neighbourhood were very much alarmed, and great numbers 
fled to Nyfle and other countries, thinking that the Fellatas were 
certainly coming among them. The number of persons in the 
boat was only four, two white men and two blacks : that they 
found great treasure in the boat ; but that the people had all died 
who eat of the meat that was found in her. This account I believe 
to be the most correct of all that I have yet got ; and was told 
without my putting any questions, or showing any eagerness for 
him to go on with his story. I was often puzzled to think, after 
the kindness I had received at Boussa, what could have caused 
such a change in the minds of these people in the course of twenty 
years, and of their different treatment of two European travellers. 
I was even disposed at times to flatter myself that there was some- 
thing in me that belonged to nobody else, to make them treat me 
and my people with so much kindness ; for the friendship of the 
king of Boussa I consider as my only protection in this country. 
Koolfu, or, as it is called by many, Koolfie, is the principal town 
for trade in Nyfle at present; and at all times a central point 
for trade in this part of the interior. It is situated on the north 
bank of the river May-yarrow ; and it is surrounded by a clay 
wall about twenty feet high, and has four gates. It is built in 
the form of an oblong square, having its longest diameter from 
east to west ; there is a long irregular street runs through it, from 
which lead a number of smaller streets. There are two large open 
spaces near the east and west ends of the town, in which are 
booths, and large shady trees, to protect the people from the heat 
of the sun, when attending the markets, which are daily held in 
those places: there are, besides the daily markets, twm weekly markets 
on Mondays and Saturdays, which are resorted to by traders and 
people inhabiting the sea coast. Ajoolly and the other towns in 
