Variously Coloured Mats, Of Excellent Workmanship, Were Afterwards Brought For Their Use, And With Thankful Hearts And Comfortable Feelings, They Laid Themselves Down To Rest.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Fatigued with the journey of the preceding day, the travellers lay on their mats rather later than usual, and before they had risen, the king's messengers and others entered their hut to give them the salutations of the morning. Richard Lander returned Yarro's compliment, by calling to see him at his own house, while his brother remained at home to take care of the goods. The natives of the country having a very indifferent reputation for honesty, compelled them to keep a watchful eye over all their actions. A number of mallams from Houssa paid them a visit about the middle of the day, but a body of more ignorant Mahommedans, it was supposed, could no where be found, for not one of them, even to their chief, who had a youthful appearance, understood a word of Arabic.

Just before sunset, John Lander selected a present, consisting of the following articles for the king: viz. six yards of red cloth, a quantity of printed cottons, a pair of silver bracelets, a looking-glass, two pair of scissors, a knife, two combs, and a tobacco pipe. The goods having been properly secured, they repaired with this present to the king, who received it with much apparent satisfaction.

Yarro professed the mahommedan faith, yet it was easy to perceive the very slender acquaintance he had obtained of the precepts of the Koran, by the confidence which he placed in the religion of his fathers, in placing fetishes to guard the entrance of his houses, and adorn their half-naked walls.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 829 of 1124
Words from 227064 to 227348 of 309561