Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa, from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo : $b To which is added, the journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the sea-coast, partly by a more eastern route.Clapperton, Hugh
History
Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa, from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo : $b To which is added, the journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the sea-coast, partly by a more eastern route.
Clapperton, Hugh
Sudan (Region) -- Description and travel
About mid-day arrived at the court of Bello; the Gadado saw me passing
to my quarters, and sent to request I would halt, and to say I must
go to the sultan, who would excuse every thing about my dress, as he
was so anxious to see me. I accordingly dismounted, and accompanying
the Gadado, we were instantly shown into the residence of Bello,
which was formed of a number of huts, screened off by cloth fixed
to poles, making quite a little village of itself. His reception of
me was most kind and gratifying; he asked after the health of the
king of England, and if we were still at peace, and how I had found
all my friends. He was surprised when I said I had not seen them,
and that I had remained only four months in England. He said, he
had not received either of my letters, the one from Bornou, or that
which had been sent by the way of Ghadamis from Tripoli. He asked me
if I had not experienced a great many difficulties in getting through
Yourriba; said he had heard of me when I was at Eyeo or Katunga, and
that he had sent a messenger to that place, to assist me in getting
through; and had also sent another to Koolfu; but neither of whom,
as I told him, had I seen.
During this interview, it began to rain, thunder, and lighten
very heavily; but as he and the old Gadado remained exposed to it,
I was of course obliged to do so too. He had heard, he observed,
that our camels had died on the road, but said he would send one
of his men with a camel this evening, and who would take care that
all my baggage should arrive safely at Soccatoo; but that it would
be better that every thing should remain with me, until my setting
out for the capital, where I could then deliver to him the present,
and the king of England’s letter, as he intended making an attack
on the capital of Goobur on the morrow. The rain having now ceased,
I was permitted to take leave, and made the best of my way to that
part of the camp assigned to me, which was not far distant from the
sultan’s abode.
During the night, a pretty strict guard was kept, by horsemen in
quilted armour; and all the horses in the camp were saddled at sunset,
and remained so during the night.
Bello’s appearance was very little altered from what it was when I
saw him last, except that he had got a little lustier, and dressed
somewhat better. He was dressed to-day in a white striped muslin
shirt and turban, and the finest tobes that the country produces.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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