258 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
should take the whole of my master’s money, which consisted of 
212,000 cowries, to him. As this could not be done conveniently 
without a camel, I purchased one for 62,000 cowries. 
25tli. — At half-past seven in the morning, left my house, accom- 
panied by old Pascoe, a messenger from sultan Bello, and one from 
the king of Kano. Could not, however, get without the gates of 
the city till ten, the bullocks being very restive, and throwing off 
their burdens repeatedly. At one o'clock halted at Zungugwa: 
the camel, in endeavouring to enter the gate, unfortunately broke 
two boxes in which was stationery, &c. This accident detained us 
an hour outside the walls, and the men were ultimately obliged to 
carry the goods on their heads to the residence of the chief, which 
was a quarter of a mile’s distance. I waited on him, and gave him 
a pair of scissors, fifty needles, and a small paper of cloves, which 
pleased him highly. The chief showed me into one of his best 
huts, where, he told me, I might remain till I thought proper to 
leave the place ; and shortly afterwards sent me butter, sour milk, 
a couple of fine fowls, and tucih and corn. 
26th. — At six in the morning left the hut of this hospitable chief; 
and, after a ride of six hours, came to Markee, a large, but rather 
thinly inhabited village. The chief, a kind-hearted old man, upwards, 
I should suppose, of ninety years of age, and very feeble, was de- 
lighted to see me, and testified the pleasure he felt by shaking 
hands with me repeatedly, and by doing me many acts of kindness. 
He presented me with fowls, rice, corn, and tuah . After a little 
conversation, he took me into an inner apartment, and bidding me 
to sit, took from a calabash, which was suspended to a piece of 
wood attached to the roof, a small box made of skin, round which 
was wound, with the greatest care, upwards of five hundred yards 
of thread, which occupied him twenty minutes in taking off. In 
this box he showed me four bits of tin, about the size of swan and 
common shot, which he told me were silver. The old chief gave 
