RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO AND MAGARIA. 
201 
I recommended him to drink rice water in plenty, to refrain from 
pepper and strong spices, and not to visit his ladies too often, and 
to wear a hat when he rode out. I also gave him a dose of calomel, 
recommending him to use natron in his food. 
The henna or salli, with whose leaves they stain their hands 
and toes, is made of pounded leaves, mixed with water to the con- 
sistence of a poultice, which is laid on thick, and bound with gourd 
leaves to keep it on. To see a person in this state, without know- 
ing that he was sacrificing comfort to make himself look beautiful, 
would be apt to excite pity for the poor man, and to imagine that he 
had fallen from some height, and bruised his hands and feet so badly 
as to require their being poulticed to reduce the inflammation. 
Some great people go so far as to have themselves stained every 
three nights. 
Friday, 3d. — The negroes and most of the Arabs are great gam- 
blers, though it is strictly prohibited by the Fellata laws. Their 
principal game is called cha-cha, and is played by any number 
of persons at a time, with cowries. Night is the usual time for 
this game ; and so eager are they in it, that they will frequently 
stake their breeches and every part of their dress. I should never 
have known of its existence, had not one of my servants, named 
Micama, a native of Zinder in Bornou, come home last night with 
the loss of his tobe ; and on my insisting this morning that he 
should not enter the house in such a state, he pleaded the heat of 
the weather, and made other excuses, which I could not allow: the 
other servants then told me what he had been at, and said he was 
an expert hand, and could not refrain from playing when he saw 
others play. I advanced him money to buy another tobe, telling 
him if I ever knew him to play again, I should give him up to the 
F ellatas, who punish all caught at such a game with death, or some- 
tiling approaching it. In the afternoon I took leave of the sultan, 
who breaks up in the night, and proceeds to Soccatoo. 
D D 
