HOUSA. 47 bring to Housa above two or three slaves at a time ; but there are great numbers of merchants continually bringing them. His own slave was a native of Bambarra, and was brought very young to Timbuctoo. Slaves are generally stupid ; but his, on the contrary, was very sensible ; he understood several languages, particularly Arabic ; he bought him as an interpreter ; he would not have sold publicly for above twenty ducats ; but he gave 50 for him ; his master parting with him very reluctantly. He bought two female slaves at Housa, at 15 ducats each.

The value of slaves has since then doubled in Barbary ; he does not know the present "* price at Timbuctoo. At Timbuctoo not ten slaves in the hundred bought there, are females ; when bought, the merchant shuts them up in a private room, bnt not in chains, and places a centinel at the door : when the confidence of any of them is.

supposed to be gained, they are employed as centinels. Housa having a great trade, is much frequented by people from Bambarra, Foulan, Jinnie, and the interior countries.

Manufactures and husbandry are similar to those at Timbuctoo.

CLIMATE.

Tiie hot winds blow from the east ; the summer is hotter than in Marocco, and hotter at P About the 1790th year of the Christian era.

*i In the year 1795.