INTRODUCTION. XVII

five miles east of Soccatoo, at three o’clock in the afternoon of the same day,

according to the rites of the church of England. He was carried on one of

his own camels, and followed by no one but myself, and five people who went

with me to dig the grave.

“ We arrived at this place (Kano) on the 20th of July, 1826, and were

treated with the greatest respect, and the persons in power were well pleased

with their presents, until master asked to go to Bornou : after this we were

treated like spies. I was left in Kano to take care of the baggage, and my

master proceeded to Soccatoo, with the presents to Bello. When master

asked permission to go to Bornou, Bello despatched a messenger off to Kano,

with orders to bring me, with all the things, instantly to Soccatoo. I left Kano on the 25th of November, and arrived at Soccatoo the 20th of De-

cember. On the 21st, the sultan demanded the Sheik of Bornou’s letters.

Master gave them to him. He desired master to open them. He said

it was more than his head was worth, to open his king’s letters. He said,

‘ Then I will.’ He then told him that he had received letters, from several

respectable persons, to say that we were spies. Master said he must see

those letters ; but he would not show them. He waved his hand for us to

go. We went home, and in the afternoon of the same day, the king’s head men came, and demanded the Sheik of Bornou’s present and the spare arms.

My master said, ‘ There is no faith in you ; you are worse than highway

robbers.’ They said, ‘ Take care, or you will lose your head.’ He said,

‘ If I do lose it, it is for the rights of my country.’ They then took the

presents and arms, and went off ; and, soon after, the sultan sent to say we must go by the desert, or by the way we came ; we must not go to

Bornou.

“ I left Soccatoo the 4th of May, and arrived at Kano the 21st of May.

I am waiting here for two hundred and forty-five thousand cowries, for dif-

ferent articles purchased by the Sultan of Soccatoo. As soon as I receive

these, which I expect in ten days, I proceed to the sea-side by the way we came, or else by a nearer way by thirty-five miles, ten days due south of

Kulfu, called Funda, which I expect is the Bight of Benin, as the Quorra

runs to it. This river is called by us the Niger. If the Sultan of Kulfu

assures me of the road being safe, I will go, as it will be a great advantage

to the English. I send the copy of the Journal from Katunga to this town