The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-07-20
No.43

During our travellers residence in Kano,
he was visited by all kinds of people, and a.
mong others, two massi dnbis or jugglers,
who exhibited dancing snakes, with which
they played all manner of tricks, precisely
such as are performed in India bu. Mr..
Clapperton could hardly have expected to-
find in such quarter, expert members of
the fancy; desperate boxers and wrest-
Iers, and addicted, like the people of Ken
lucky, ''to gouge or scoop out one of the
eyes,.
Blindness is prevalent disease; and with
in the walls of Kano, there is seperate viii
lage for people Afflicted with this infrmity
their huts are neatly and welfbuilt, and no
one, who is not blind, unless on rare occa-
sions one eyed man, is admitted into the
community; the lame, it was said, had
similar establishment and both had allowan-
ces from the governor, and were, besides,
permitted to be in the markets
This city is celebrated for the art of dye
ing cotton cloth, Especially with indigo)
which is afterwards beaten with wooden mall
lets, until it acquires japan like gloss. The
women dye their hair with indigo and also
their hands. feet, legs, and eyebrows. Their
legs and arms thus painted, look as if cover.
ed with dark blue gloves and boots. Both
men and wonse4-color their teeth and lips
with the flowers Of the georgei tree. and of
the tobacco plant; which give to the teeth
and lips blood-red appearance. Both men
and women eat snuff mixed with trona; but
men only are allowed to smoke tobacco'
the gooro nut Ga species of Stercutia)is as u
Universally chewcd here as the GRECO nut is In
the east.
Speaking of the Felatah women, Cap
tain Clappertou is warm in praise OF their at
fractions of person and manner
Inhisillness they attended him with as much
Kindness and care as if they had been his
near relations. Nor was he IN return un-
grateful or insensible of their charms. An
attack Of the ague had obliged him to halt
and to rest all day under the shade OF
tree
"A pretty Felath, girl, going to market
with milk and butter, neat and spruce in her
|. attire as Cheshire dairy maid, here accost-
) ed me with infinite archness and grace. She
, said was of her own nation; and, after much
5 amusing small talk, pressed her, in jest. to
accompany me on my journey, while she
} parried my solicitations with rougish glee.
: referring me to her father and mother.
don't know how 1t happened, but her pres
A ence seemed to dispel the effects of the ague.
: To this triAing and innocent memorial OF
: face and form, seen that day tor the hrst ana
: last time, but which shall not readily for
e get, may add the more interesting infor-
tmation, to the good housewives of my own
i country, that the making of butter such as
!; ours is confined to the nation of the Felat-
Il abs. and that it is both clean and excellent.
# So much is this domestic art cultivated, that
S from an useful prejudice or superstition, 1t is
4 deemed unlucky to sell new milk it may,
G however, be bestowed as agift.< Butter is al
h so made in otherparts of central Africa, but
: sold in an oily fluid state, something like ho-
!; ney."--p. 38.
# We may here notice another trait OF lnno-
II cent simplicity, such as we have often been
u told prevailed once, but that Is long
S; time ago, in a certain country called hrca-
Of dia:
- aThe weather clear and fine, we road to-
Of day through little valleys delightfully."- green,
living between high ridges of granite; and to
,e add to the beauty of the scenery, there were
" many clear springs issuing out .ot the rocks.
IS where youg women women were employed
il drawing water, asked several times for a
,e pourd Of water, by way of excuse to enter
Fl into conversation with them. Bending grace
h. fully on one knee, and displaying at the
IS same time teeth of pearly whiteness, and
Al eyes of the blackest lustre, they presented
ID it TO me on horseback, and appeared highly
if delighted when thanked them for their ci-
II Witty, and remarked one to the other
: did YOU hear the white man thank me z .
le -p. II.
y The following anecdote relative to the
d Sheikh of Bornou, and the favourlte negro
$ whom he had raised to power and wealth
is is interesting:
it "A circumstance happened during the last
of two days, WHICH created great sensation a
r, mong the chiefs; and while it proved tha
is absolute power in the person of the Sheikf
II, was not unaccompanied by a heart overflow
g. ing with feelings of mercy and moderation
2. it also displayed many qualities in his untu
tored and unenlightened subjects. bares
at Cana, his general and his favorite, a govern
a or of six large districts, the man whom ne
ee delights to honour, who bad more than nj
a ty female slaves, and twice the number o
an male, was taught a lesson OF humility ina
cy made me feel exceedingly for him. In CIV
IN, ing presents to the chiefs, the Sheikh hat
- inadvertently sent him horse which HI
Ter had previously promised to some one else
is and on Barea Cana being requested to Civ
cs. it up, he took such great offence that he sen
er back all the horses which the Sheikh ha
nv previously given him, saying that he woul
-cs in future walk or ride his own. On this tn
.r- Sheikh Immediately sent for him, had hir
he stripped in his presence, and a leather gir
EST die put round his loins: and after reproach
he iup him with his ingratitude ordered the