158 
JOURNEY FROM BOUSSA TO KANO. 
messenger to Kano, as 1 intended going to Sackatoo by that route. 
He said he would send to the sultan, or governor, and inform him 
of my arrival ; that the messenger would return in three days, and 
in the meantime 1 should have every assistance that he could afford 
me. I told him I wanted the loan of a horse to Kano, and should 
leave my little mare until she recovered, when she was to be sent 
to me, and I would pay all expenses. Abdulkrum appears to be a 
very good fellow, but is in great distress he tells me ; and there is 
nothing in his possession but he will give me if I will only relieve 
him, for he declares I can. A number of visitors coming in put an 
end to his story, as it appears to be with him a great secret. 
The old city of Zaria was taken by the F ellatas about a month 
after they had taken the provinces of Goober and Zamfra, in or 
about the year 1800, as they do not care much about a year or two. 
J t only stood a siege of two days ; the sultan and the greater part 
of the inhabitants flying to the southern and western part of the 
province, which is hilly, and inhabited by pagans. Here they still 
remain, and preserve their independence, though the Fellatas 
seldom let a month pass without making an attack on them ; but 
of late they have suffered severely, and begin to be more cautious 
in their attacks. The old city is now only known by its ruined 
wall surrounding the before-mentioned mounts, which were in the 
centre of the city. 
The new city built by the Fellatas, the walls of which extend 
from the south-east side of the old, about two miles to the south, 
enclosing a great space of ground, on which are built a number of 
little villages and detached houses, is surrounded by high clay walls. 
Abdulkrum’s house, where I lived, is in latitude 10° 59' north, and 
longitude 8° 42' east. Near the centre of the wall stands the prin- 
cipal mosque, built of clay, having a minaret about forty or fifty 
feet high. The principal market is at the south end, inside the 
walls, and here the caravans make their tongas, or camps. One 
