Boxing in Houssa, like wrestling in Bornou, forms a favourite exercise, and the grand national spectacle.  Clapperton, having heard much of the fancy of Kano, intimated his willingness to pay for a performance, which was forthwith arranged.  The whole body of butchers attended, and acted as masters of the ceremonies; while, as soon as the tidings spread, girls left their pitchers at the wells; the market people threw down their baskets, and an immense crowd were assembled.  The ring being formed, and drums beaten, the performers first came forward singly, plying their muscles, like a musician tuning his instrument, and each calling out to the bystanders—­“I am a hyena.”  “I am a lion.”  “I can kill all that oppose me.”  After about twenty had shown off in this manner, they came forward in pairs, wearing only a leathern girdle, and with their hands muffled in numerous folds of country cloth.  It was first ascertained that they were not mutual friends; after which they closed with the utmost fury, aiming their blows at the most mortal parts, as the pit of the stomach, beneath the ribs, or under the ear; they even endeavoured to scoop out the eyes; so that in spite of every precaution, the match often terminated in the death of one of the combatants.  Whenever Clapperton saw the affair verging to such an issue, he gave orders to stop, and after seeing six parties exhibit, he paid the hire, and broke up the meeting.

The negroes here are excessively polite and ceremonious, especially to those advanced in years.  They salute one another by laying the hand on the breast, making a bow, and inquiring, Kona lafia? ki ka ky kee—­Fo fo da rana: How do you do?  I hope you are well.  How have you passed the heat of the day?  The last question corresponds in their climate to the circumstantiality, with what our country folks inquire about a good night’s rest.

The unmarried girls, whether slaves or free, and likewise the young unmarried men, wear a long apron of blue and white check, with a notched edging of red woollen cloth.  It is tied with two broad bands, ornamented in the same way, and hanging down behind to the very ankles.  This is peculiar to Soudan, and forms the only distinction in dress from the people of Bornou.

Their marriages are not distinguished by any great form or ceremony.  When a bride is first conducted to the house of the bridegroom, she is attended by a great number of friends and slaves, bearing presents of melted fat, honey, wheat, turkadees, and tobes as her dower.  She whines all the way, "Wey kina! wey kina! wey lo!" O my head!  My head!  Oh! dear me.  Notwithstanding this lamentation, the husband has commonly known his wife some time before marriage.  Preparatory to the ceremony of reading the fatah, both bridegroom and bride remain shut up for some days, and have their hands and feet dyed for three days successively, with henna.  The bride herself visits the bridegroom, and applies the henna plasters with her own hands.