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                   CHAP. XXV.



 RESIDENCE IN KANO.— VIEW" OF ITS INTERIOR. —ITS HISTORY AND

              PRESENT STATE. — COMMERCE.



 Kano for  us  was a station of importance not  only

 from a scientific but also from an  economical point

 of  view.   Instead of  being provided  with ready

 cash, we had received in Miirzuk, on account of the

 British government, merchandise which, we had been

 assured,  would  not only be  safer than  money, but

 would also prove more advantageous for us.   In con¬

 sequence of the heavy extortions to which we were

 subjected on the road to Air, and of our long delay

 in that country, we had been deprived of the small

 articles which  we carried for barter, so that we were

 entirely thrown upon  the merchandise which  we had

 forwarded  in  advance from Tinteggana; and I for

 my part,  on my arrival in Kano,  had to liquidate a

 debt of not less  than 112,300 kurdi: viz. 55,000 for

 the carriage of this very merchandise from Tinteggana

 to Kan6; 8300 as my share of the presents or passage-

money given on the road; 18,000 to Gajere,  as  hire

for the mare and bullock; and 31,000 to a man of the

 name of  Haj el  Dawaki, on account of Abti-Bakr el

 Wakhshi, for the articles bought from him in Katsena,

  VOL. n.               ii