deep scar; another in the arm, which, as the spear was poisoned, had never healed, but was still an operi wound, extending several inches from the elbow downwards; and in the third, the spear had gone in at his mouth as he lay on the ground, and carrying away part of the jaw and teeth, had penetrated quite through his cheek. A short time after his return from the expedition, he was seized with what the Doctor called the Greek leprosy, covering great part of his body with a foul black eruption, and from which he was now suffering, accompanied by an irritation almost insupportable. ■ Doetor Oudney and Hillman were now both too ill to join us at meal times; the heat of the day, and dampness of the evenings, affeeted us all greatly. I used, notwithstanding, to go out in the morning and shoot a couple of ducks or a goose, which helped us out at dinner, although they were dreadfully tough and fishy. The country was now assuming a more interesting appearance from the crops of gussub that had sprung up all round Kouka, on which the slaves of all the inhabitants had been busily employed during the last month, as they sow at the commencement of the rainy season. In a country where so little is cultivated, there is always an abundant choice of land; and a planter takes possession of any Spot that has1 not been occupied the preceding year, and it then becomes exclusively his property. In two months from the time of sowing they gather the harvest, and this is the only labour of the year. We had a curious trial this morning before the sheikh, the; result of which furnishes a singular proof of his simplicity and submission to the word of the Prophet. The circumstances were these; a Shouaa had stabbed a man the night before, upon some disagreement, and death was the consequence. The brother of the defunct demanded blood, and- on application to the kadi, it came out in evidence that the Shouaa had desired the deceased to quit his door, three several times, if he had any faith in the Prophet; but he still continued to resist, and aggravate him, till at last he stabbed him in Six placés. The kadi’s decision was, that upon so solemn a caution, the unfortunate man should have retired ;—that his not doing so was a proof he had no faith in the Prophet ; was a Kafir, and waS the cause of his own death, and therefore that the murdèrer should not suffer punishment. The accuser, however, appfealedto the sheikh,.who told him, that, certainly, by God’s law; communicated to the Prophet, and written in the g’tab (the book), an eyB for. an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and life for life, should be given—but recommended his taking a fine instead of blood. The .sturdy Arab, however, was unmoved, and called loudly for justice ; and the sheikh then said,, he had the law in his own hands, and he might do as he pleased. The prisoner was then taken outside of the walls, and .the brother of the deceased beat his brains out. with an iron-headed club, which the Shouaas sometimes carry. This was considered a very extraordinary occurrence in Bornou. I continued to work at the Arabic and Bornou languages ; and, besides this, I usually visited Barca Gana two or three times a week, and sometimes he came to me) so that my time rarely hung heavy on my hands ; but he always came mounted, and with .so many attendants, that my little hut was put in disorder, for the whole day after. I believe he entered no period’s habitation in the town but my own, except the sheikh’s. N v great man here ever visits his inferior, or moves from his own house to th e , sheikh’s, without a retinue agreeable to his rank ; and the kashella, on remonstrating with me for coming through the streets alone, was surprised, when I told him that even our king did the same; and, often habited like his-subjects, rode attended, only by a single servant. ; (Convinced as he was. before of his importance, this astonished him; greatly; “ Why,” said he,.“ were the sheikh to. do so, nobody, would respept him :”rf- and replied I, “ in England the oftener the king doe's* this the more he is both loved and respected.” Two decisions of the sheikh lately had created a considerable
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