120 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION 
heads were also guarded by iron plates. Their saddles 
were small and light, and their steel stirrups held only 
the point of the feet, which were clad in leather shoes, 
ornamented with crocodile skin. The horsemen managed 
their steeds admirably, as, advancing at full gallop, 
brandishing their spears, they wheeled right and left of 
their guests, shouting, “ Barca ! Barca ! ” (Blessing ! 
Blessing t) 
Surrounded by this brilliant and fantastic escort, 
the English and Arabs entered the town, where a similar 
military display had been prepared in their honour. 
They were presently admitted to the presence of 
Sheikh El Khanemy, who appeared to be about forty- 
five years old, and whose face was prepossessing, with a 
happy, intelligent, and benevolent expression. 
The English presented the letters of the pacha, and 
when the sheikh had read them, he asked Denham what 
had brought him and his companions to Bornou, 
“ We came merely to see the country,” replied Denham, 
“ to study the character of its people, its scenery, and its 
productions.” 
“ You are welcome,” was the reply ; “ it will be a 
pleasure to me to show you everything. I have ordered 
huts to be built for you in the town; you may go and 
see them, accompanied by one of my people, and when 
you are recovered from the fatigue of your long journey, 
I shall be happy to see you.” 
The travellers soon afterwards obtained permission 
to make collections of such animals and plants as 
appeared to them curious, and to make notes of all 
their observations. They were thus enabled to collect 
a good deal of information about the towns near 
Kouka. 
Ivouka, then the capital of Bornou, boasted of a 
market for the sale of slaves, sheep, oxen, cheese, rice, 
earth-nuts, beans, indigo, and other productions of the 
country. There 100,000 people might sometimes be 
seen haggling about the price of fish, poultry, meat— 
the last sold both raw and cooked—or that of brass, 
copper, amber, and coral. Linen was so cheap in these 
