52 HOUSA.

in the morning they collect where marked, and carry it to refiners, who, for a small sum, separate the gold. There are no mountains or rivers near the spot, it is a plain without sand, of a dark brown eartli. Any person may go to seek gold ; they sell it to the merchants, who pay a small duty to the king. The produce is uncertain ; he lias heard that a bushel of earth has produced the value of twelve ducats, three pounds sterling, of pure gold. They set out from Housa about two o'clock in the afternoon, arrive about sun-set, and return the next day seeking for gold during the whole night.

LIMITS OF THE EMPIRE Beyond Timboo, on the north side of the Nile, are very extensive. Afnoo is subject to the king of Housa, noslaves can be made from thence.

Darfneel is near Afnoo; the latter is on the north side ofthe river, nearer to its source, and a great way from Timbuctoo. No Arabs are found on the banks of the Nile. He supposes the circumference of the empire to be about twenty- five days' journey ; has heard that many other large towns are dependent upon it, but does not remember their names.

The neighbouring countries are Bambarra, Timboo, Mooshee, and Jinnie ; all negroes. He has heard of Bernoo ' as a great empire.

s Ber Noh, or Bernoh, i, e, the country of Noah, is said by the Africans, to be the birth-place of the patriarch Noah.