174 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO, 
of a certain plant and a little butter. It is the general food for the 
second meal in all parts between the Quorra and Bornou, and some- 
times also in the latter place, if they have millet. 
They are now gathering in the indigo, which they cut about 
two or three inches above the ground, bringing what they cut off 
home, and strip off the leaves, which are laid in a circular heap, and 
left to rot or ferment until the end of the rains, when it is beaten 
in the troughs or wooden mortars, and allowed to remain until dry. 
In other places they beat it in the troughs as soon as cut, and let 
it remain until dry, when what they do not want for use is carried 
to Kano and sold. 
The houses in Toffa are few, and all the spare places in the 
town are planted with millet and doura. The inhabitants do not 
amount to more than two thousand. During the night we had 
thunder, lightning, and rain. 
Friday, 25th.— Morning clear and fair ; gave the head man ten 
gora nuts, and my landlord ten, and started at 7. 10 A. M. The 
country cultivated only in parts ; saw several large herds of very 
fine cattle belonging to the Fellatas. They follow the cry of the 
herdsman, which is ah hea hay! in a soft but shrill cry, and the 
cattle, lowing, follow the sound. At ten passed a walled town called 
K iawa ; and at noon another walled town called Gagai. At this 
last town the land was all in cultivation. Formerly, when Dun- 
tungwa was living, they durst not stir out of their towns ; now he 
is dead, and his son submitted to Bello, every one tries who can 
plant the most. At 2 B. M. arrived and halted at a w r alled town 
called Gongodi, where I was provided with a house. The walls 
of this town are also falling to pieces. All the spare places w 7 ere 
planted with millet and doura. A plentiful market was holden 
outside of the tow n. In the shady tree close to the house in which 
[ lived were birds, a little larger than our sparrows, with a jet-black 
head, and a bright yellow in the neck, breast, belly, and under the 
