Formerly there had been a market held only every Thursday; but a short time previous to my arrival the people had found it advantageous to have a market every day, so that there was a daily market from eight in the morning till eleven in the forenoon, and from three in the afternoon till sunset. Of course it was not very well supplied, and was confined to the mere necessaries of life, the greatest luxury it contained consisting of onions, an article which is not to be procured in every part of Central Africa. At first they were very cheap, eight being sold for a fárda; but with the approach of the rainy season they increased in price, and I thought it prudent to lay in a supply, as I found this article extremely conducive to my health. And I would advise every traveller in these regions to be always provided with this vegetable; for they may be either used for seasoning food, or cut in slices and mixed with tamarinds, making, as I have stated, a cool and refreshing drink. But the black natives, as I have already mentioned on another occasion, do not in general make use of onions for seasoning their food, their cultivation having been introduced into the country by the Arabs from the north, together with wheat. But the native Arabs, or Shíwa, and the Arabs from the coast, or Wáselí, use this vegetable to a great extent, as well for seasoning their food as for medicine, especially in case of fever, small-pox, and obstruction of urine, from which latter inconvenience they suffer very much, in consequence of their marching during the heat of the day. Besides the articles above-mentioned, the commodity most plentiful in the market was grain, especially Guinea grain or _Pennisetum typhoïdeum_, the dealers in which had a special place assigned to them in the northern part of the market, under a fine tamarind-tree, or “más,”—the oldest part of the town,—which is even said to have given origin to the name Más-eñá, as I shall have occasion to describe further on. Besides beans (“mónjo”), and ground-nuts, called here “wúli” or “búli,” salt too (“kása”), owing to the presence of the Jelába from Wádáy, some of whom I had met on my road, was very plentiful; but it was only sold in very small portions. The same people also sold natron (“ngíllu”), which is brought by the Tebu from the border of the desert. Milk (“sí”) and butter (“búgu”) were dear, but sour milk (“sí chále”) in abundance—it is principally brought into the town by the daughters of the Bení Hassan. Honey (“téji”), which in many countries is so plentiful, is scarcely to be got at all. There were always a few head of sheep and cattle, and sometimes a few fowls were to be seen; occasionally also a horse of indifferent description made its appearance. Cotton (“ñyíre”) was rather scarce; and I did not see any indigo, “alíni.” Red pepper (“shíta”) formed a peculiar article of commerce, which was retailed in small parcels by the Bórnu traders.