266 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
consented to, but be was not freed from bis irons till the morning 
we left the town. 
13th. — This day 600 camels laden with salt, obtained from the 
borders of the Great Desert, arrived at the town. They were pre- 
ceded by a party of twenty Tuarick salt-merchants, whose appear- 
ance was grand and imposing. They entered at full trot, riding 
on handsome camels, some of them red and white, and others black 
and white. All the party were dressed exactly alike. They wore 
black cotton tobes and trousers, and white caps with black turbans, 
which hid every part of the face but the nose and eyes. In their 
right hand they held a long and highly-polished spear, whilst the 
left was occupied in holding their shields, and retaining the reins 
of their camels. The shields were made of white leather, with a 
piece of silver in the centre. As they passed me, their spears glit- 
tering in the sun, and their whole bearing bold and warlike, they 
had a novel and singular effect, which delighted me. They stopped 
suddenly before the residence of the chief, and all of them exclaim- 
ing, “ Choir!'’ each of the camels dropped on its knees, as if by in- 
stinct, whilst their riders dismounted to pay their respects. They 
came in a body to see me just after, and notwithstanding their ap- 
parent respectability, felt not the least repugnance to beg money 
in a most importunate manner. One of them, in the hope of ob- 
taining some, described himself as “ God’s own slave.” I refused 
to accede to his request, observing, that God always loved his ser- 
vants, and made them prosperous and happy, and could not believe 
what he had told me. Becoming at length very troublesome, I 
was under the necessity of turning him out: as he went away, he 
muttered something I did not understand, and said, I was the first 
person that ever refused to give him money. Like thousands of 
others, these merchants were very inquisitive, and amongst other 
questions asked whether any of my countrymen had tails like 
