not giving his Bouzaferr, was now become quite a standing joke amongst the Kaffle. He spoke very bad Arabic, which, with his being very lame, and always requiring, when he walked, to be supported by two Negresses, made him the constant subject of ridicule. H e had almost famished his slaves and camel-men, allowing them to drink once a day only, though he had a plentiful stock of water. Having a pipe, he amused himself with it day and night; and as smoking was to him the height of enjoyment, and he always rode a camel, he affected to wonder that the poor slaves should be fatigued or in want of refreshment. Every other owner had brought ready ground com with him for the food of the Negroes; but Baba obliged his poor tired females to pound their corn every evening after their fatiguing march, in wooden mortars, which he had brought for the purpose. Though the whole Kaffle had been straitened for water, he actually brought two whole skins full to the well, and the Arabs told me that his slaves lay down and drank of it like camels. This man had been, about six years before, robbed of all his goods by the Tuarick, of the tribe of Haggar, when on the confines of the kingdom of Kashna, on his way from Tunis; but his address, or roguery, more than supplied his loss. He arrived almost naked at Sakkatoo, the residence of Bello (son of the celebrated Hatman Danfodio), the Sultan of the Fellata, introducing himself as a Shreef, or descendant of the Prophet, and telling a piteous story of his losses, which he since owns to have been greatly exaggerated. Bello, believing him to be a Shreef, took compassion on him, and made him a kingly present of a hundred Negresses, some of whom, then with him, were really beautiful; he also supported him for some time. The old man had traded with the Negresses, and had made a great deal of money, with which he was now returning. We were also accompanied from Zeghen by an old Arab, whe appeared to have nothing to do with loading or unloading the CHAP. V I I I . RETURN TO TR IPOLI. 811 camels, and who always prayed and slept apart from the Kaffle. I supposed him to be the father of some of the camel-men, and frequently gave him food, until I learnt that he was related to none of our companions, and that he had but one object in coming with us, which was to live upon us. He had a voracious appetite, and finding he could not obtain food at home without working for it, had been for many years in the habit of passing this desert with the Kaffl6s, on whom he quartered himself: his character was well known, yet the Arabs were unable to shake him off, fearing he would spread a report that they allowed him to starve, while they had plenty, which would have been a great reproach to them. A t the well where I killed the camel, I gave him two days’ allowance, or about four pounds of food, which he devoured at once: he then dined with my drivers, and again with the Shreef Sadig’s men, and even managed to coax the hungry slaves out of part of their dinner. Having lost his teeth, he never chewed, but bolted his food, and was a complete glutton. Thursday, Feb. 24th. Therm.,4° The Sheikh of Sockna, who was on his way to congratulate the Sultan, met us here and gave me fifty dollars, with letters from the Consul, Dr. Dickson, and Mr. Carstensen, who were all well. H e also informed us of the death of the Bashaw’s eldest Mulatto son Sidi Mourad, of a pestilential disorder, which, he said, was reported to be the plague. We dressed, ourselves in our best clothes, and passed on, in company with Lizari, before the Kaffl6, for the town o f Sockna, to prepare houses. After proceeding for about two hours over a plain sprinkled with shrubs, we passed a sandy flat and date trees: at about two miles from the town; having traversed north-east nearly fourteen miles, arrived at the town of Sockna. Before we entered it above a hundred friends of Lizari, who was once acting, and is now
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