210 
RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO AND MAGARIA. 
poorer sort are fenced round with matting, or the stalk of dourra 
or millet. Before the west front of the sultan's enclosure is a 
large open space, of an irregular form, on the west side of which 
stands the principal mosque. In this space is also the prison, a 
building of about eighty feet long, and nearly the same in breadth, 
covered at top with a flat clay roof, overlaid with boughs. Inside 
is a deep pit, where those who have committed the greatest crimes 
are confined. No person is put in prison for debt; only thieves, 
prisoners of war (taken singly), such as spies, and disobedient 
slaves, who, on a complaint to the sultan that they will not work, 
are sent to prison. Their only food is the bran or husks of millet 
and dourra, with water ; but their friends are allowed to give them 
food, if they have any. It is a filthy place, and the terror of the 
men-slaves of Soccatoo. The prisoners are taken out, two and 
two, every day to work at the walls, or any laborious work which 
may occur. 
Another house and the tomb of the sultan is further to the 
west of the mosque, on the north side of a broad street, which 
leads to the western gate. It is occupied by his widows, con- 
cubines, and youngest son, called Abedelgader, who is not arrived 
at a proper age to have a house for himself. The sheik's tent is 
inside of the square enclosure, behind the room he generally 
occupied when living. It is visited as a holy place by all Maho- 
metan strangers, from which they afterwards hope to enjoy the 
good things of this world, and that of their world to come. 
The ordinary occupations of the higher, and indeed I may say 
of all classes of the F ellatas is, they rise at day-break, wash and say 
their prayers, count their beads for about half an hour, and then 
chew a gora nut, if they have any; which done, they sip a quan- 
tity of senkie, or furro-furrocoo. These articles are a preparation 
of half-boiled dourra flowers, made into balls of about one pound, 
mixed up with dry flour. Senkie is one of these balls, bruised 
