180 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
senger with my lost books, I hired five of the footmen belonging 
to Zamfra, to carry the camel’s load for 2000 cowries, as far as the 
camp ; and the exhausted camel I left to its fate. We had not 
proceeded far, however, before a messenger arrived from the Gadado 
with a camel, when the loads were taken from the bearers by force, 
by the Gadado’s messenger ; but I gave them 500 cowries for their 
assistance, and they were well pleased, and returned me many 
thanks. My servants had carried the greater part of the bullock's 
load on their heads all day ; and I could not but admire their 
patience, as their only food in the morning was a little ground 
dourra and water ; and of this I was also obliged to partake. 
It was 9 P. M. before we arrived at the camp, which was by 
the side of a lake. I sent my present to the Gadado, to carry on 
his camels, as all that was now left me was a bullock with the itch, 
which we could hardly drive along, with only the tent, my servants 
carrying the rest. All that I had to eat was a little ground Indian 
corn, boiled with salt and water ; and I slept in the open air. 
The governors of the several provinces had each a singing or 
crying man, in addition to the drums and horses. The one of 
Zegzeg was the most disgusting, being a large black man, mounted 
on horseback, with an unshaven head, roaring out like a person in 
great agony, and every now and then screaming out as loud as he 
could bawl, and calling me a Kaffir, threatening to eat me. In the 
morning, at an early hour, I left our place of encampment ; and 
ascending a gravelly ridge, I had an extensive view to the west 
and south-west, over the extensive plains and swamps of Gondamie. 
The soil on the ridge was a red clay and gravel, the trees low and 
stunted. At noon, halted for the bullock to rest ; and at 1 P. M. 
got him to move on again. At 5 P. M. halted on the borders of 
a large lake, which is formed by the rivers Zurmie and Zarrie — or, 
more properly speaking, a chain of lakes and swamps, extending 
through all, or the greater part of, the plains of Gondamie, ap- 
