There were plenty of blind beggars, a sight quite unusual in other African towns, where we seldom ever saw a beggar. They are attracted to the place doubtless from the custom among the Mohammedans, (a religious custom,) of often ostentatiously distributing money among them.
As an example of the extent to which cotton fabrics are manufactured, we encountered one day in a ride of less than an hour more than one hundred and fifty weavers, busily employed at their looms. These weavers are seen also in the other towns, where they were formerly as abundant, but the influx of better and cheaper fabrics from England has very nearly superseded the necessity of them.
To the Gambari market, allusion has already been made as the greatest depot for the sale of slaves, besides which, there were exposed for sale fine horses, donkeys, mules, horse-trappings, swords, leather work, silk clothing, tobes, antimony, salt, cola nuts, stationery, etc. etc.
Tobacco is much cultivated by the people of Ilorin. They do not cure it like the Americans.
The day before we departed we received a special invitation to exhibit our curiosities—my watch, fowling-piece, etc.—to the king, which gave him much plea-sure, and induced the remark from Dungari: "Verily,
