26 TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

able reports, respecting the objects of the expe-

dition, had been made to the king, who never-

theless expressed himself well disposed towards

us, and said he should be extremely sorry if any

thing unfortunate happened to us in his terri-

tories.

The arrival of those messengers, and the re-

sult of Tuft's interview with the king, rendered

it necessary, in Captain Campbell's opinion,

that Tuft should return to Tumbo in the place of

Lieutenant Stokoe. A dispute now arose be-

tween Salihou, who was to have accompanied

the latter, and Abou Bacary, as to which of them

should be Tuft's companion. The latter insist-

ed that Almamy directed him to attend all mes-

sengers from Captain Campbell, and the for-

mer, knowing that whoever went must receive some present, urged his claim with much obsti-

nacy. It was at length determined that both

should go, in consequence of the prince not

wishing to entrust Abou Bacary with his com-

mands. Although from Salihou's conduct we

could not expect him to report very favourably

of us, yet he had been so troublesome, and his

wife, a sister of Almamy's, so beggarly and im-

portunate, that we were glad to get rid of them. We were now in the district of Laby, the chief

of which (who, as before stated, has much in-

fluence in the country) sent one of his head men,