150 DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 



was only one of the many miracles which he could show 

 as wrought by the Koran ; imploring him to turn, and para- 

 dise would be his, otherwise nothing could save him from 

 eternal fire. " Oh!" said he, "while sitting in the third 

 heaven I shall see you in the midst of the flames, crying out 

 to your friend Barca Gana and myself for a drop of water ; 

 but the gulf will be between us :" his tears then flowed pro- 

 fusely. The Major, taking the general aside, entreated to 

 be relieved from this incessant persecution ; but Gana 

 assured him that the fighi was a great and holy man, to 

 whom he ought to listen. He then held out not only para- 

 dise, but honours, slaves, and wives of the first families, as 

 gifts to be lavished on him by the sheik if he would renounce 

 his unbelief. Major Denham asked the commander, what 

 would be thought of himself if he should go to England and 

 turn Christian ] " God forbid !" exclaimed he ; " but how 

 can you compare our faiths ; mme would lead you to para- 

 dise, while yours would bring me to hell. Not a word 

 more." — Nothing appears to have annoyed the stranger 

 more than to be told that he was of the same faith with the 

 kerdies or savages ; little distinction being made between 

 any who denied the Koran. After a long discussion of this 

 question, he thought the validity of his reasoning would be 

 admitted, when he could point to a party of those wretches 

 devouring a dead horse, and appealed to Boo Khalloom if 

 he had ever seen the English do the same ; but to this, 

 which was not after all a very deep theological argument, 

 the Arab replied, — " I know they eat the flesh of swine, 

 and, God knows, that is worse." — " Grant me patience," 

 exclaimed I to myself, — " this is almost too much to bear 

 , and to remain silent." 



The unfortunate kerdies, from the moment that they 

 saw Arab tents in the valley of Mandara, knew the dread- 

 ful calamity which awaited them. To avert it, and to pro- 

 pitiate the sultan, numerous parties came down with pre- 

 sents of honey, asses, and slaves. Finally appeared the 

 Musgow, a more distant and savage race, mounted on 

 small fiery steeds, covered only with the skin of a goat or 

 leopard, and with necklaces made of the teeth of their ene- 

 mies. They threw themselves at the feet of the sultan, 

 casting sand on their heads, and uttering the most piteous 

 cries. The monarch, apparently moved by these gifts aod 



