and Kano are the most powerful ;. but they all ( either by constraint
or policy) pay tribute to Burnu, except Cabi or Nyffé, their districts
being at too great a distance. Guber pays', moreover, a tribute to
Asben. Zamtara is united with Gubèr ; the Sultan of the latter
having taken possession of it, killed the Sultan, and sold all the
prisoners he could take.~\
The Haussa are Certainly Negroes, but not quite black ; they are
the most intelligent people in the interior of Africa ; they are distinguished
from their neighbours by an interesting countenance ; their
nose is small and not flattened, and their stature is not so disagreeable
as that of the Negroes, and they have an extraordinary inclination
for pleasure, dancing, and singing. Their character is benevolent
and mild. Industry and art, and the cultivation of the natural
productions of the land, prevail in their country ; and, in this respect,
they excel the Fezzanians, who. get .the greatest part of their clothes
and houshold implements from the Soudanians. They can-dye in,
their country any colour but scarlet. The culture of their land is'
as perfect as that of the Europeans, although the manner of doing'
it is very troublesome. In short* We have very unjust ideas of this
people, not only with respect to their cultivation and natural abilities,
but also of their strength and the extent of their possessions, which
are by no means so considerable:las they have been represented.
Their music is imperfect, when compared to the European ; shut thè
Haussanian women have skill, enough to affect their husbands^
thereby even to weeping, and to inflame - their-; courage, to the
greatest fury against their enemies. The public singers are called
Kadankal 1 cl 9fl
SECTION IV.
E astw ard from Haussa are situated the dominions of the Sultan of
Burnu (z. e. the city). It appears to be much increased since the
time of Leo Africanus, as other regions belong to it, which he considered
as independent; for example, Wangara, also Edrisi’s Cauga,
&c. belong to it.
The Sultan of Burnu is reckoned the most powerful in that district;
all the neighbouring states pay him tribute. He certainly
possesses an extensive tract of land, but he gains more by his authority
in the unceasing animosity of his neighbours.
The Burnuans are blacker than the Haussanians, and completely
Negroes; they are stronger, and very patient of labour; their constitution
is in the greatest degree phlegmatic ; they are, altogether,
much more rude and uninformed than the Haussanians. Their
men are fond of women only of a large size; the Soudanians, on
the contrary, prefer those of a slender form.
A paste made of flour and flesh is the only food of the Burnuans;
the liquor they drink is an intoxicating kind of beer, which is very
nourishing. The best natural production of Burnu is copper, which
is said to be found in small native pieces. That which is gold In
Tombuctoo and Haussa, is answered by copper in Burnu; the value
of all their commodities is fixed by pounds of this metal.
Northward from the principal town of that district lies Kanena,
which is inhabited by the nation Kojam, so called from their food,
which is cow’s milk and beef.