The Tannery

Yusuf then took us a little off the beaten track tourist wise and we arrived in a side street having passed a rather large rubbish point. We weaved through small alley ways with raw sewage trickling into open sewers. We made our way through this on stepping stone arrangements. All the while I was wondering which of us would be the first to trip and fall down. Why my doctor’s surgery thought I wouldn’t need a cholera vaccination I’ll never know. I kind of regretted agreeing with them at this moment in time. Luckily, most of the sewers seemed choked with plastic bags and bottles, so God alone knows how this archaic system would cope in the spring rains expected in April. After a few minutes we came to a clearing that showed various stages of curing leather for all sorts of purposes. There was goat skin, crocodile skin, snake skin and other animal skin too! The smell was appalling and you could see pits of different substances that are part of the tanning process. You might want to research how leather is made especially in days gone by, because I can assure you, not much has changed here since biblical times. In amongst this squalid and really interesting place were children playing and animals looking at us quite bemused. If only they knew!

After that we went further into the city and came across a little oasis in the chaos called Kano Zoo. It is a little run down but only 100 Naira to get in (about 40p!). We spent a lovely hour or more looking at the hippo, giraffes, monkeys and birds. However one thing I’m not sure about... There was a baby elephant all by itself, apparently its mother had died. It wasn’t more than 2 – 3years in age, but to me it looked very lonely. Can some of you research whether it needs to be with other elephants? If so then I think we should write to the zoo to see if they can find him a friend to stay with him. We might even write to the Emir for his suggestions too?  I’ve taken a bit of film using the flip camera and will try to upload it when we visit the British Council next. They have better internet connections than I have where I’m staying. When British people work abroad, we can register with our Government so they know where we are. They then send us an e-mail to say if ever we need any help, we can just contact them. So we might use their computers when we next visit.

Meanwhile back on the compound where we are staying...

The oldest boys who are the only ones back at school because of impending exams: are very polite and respectful. They are a bit shy, but one class monitor will be interviewing us for the school news magazine. The water was back on today (hooray!) so no need to get the ever obliging Mr Sani to collect it for us from a solar pumped water tank in his three-wheeled Indian Taxi.