DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 151 



entreaties, began to intimate to Boo Khalloom his hopes 

 that these savages might by gentle means be reclaimed and 

 led to embrace the true faith. These hopes were held by 

 the latter in the utmost derision ; and he privately assured 

 Major Donham that nothing would more annoy this devout 

 Mussulman than to see them fulfilled, whereby he must 

 nave forfeited all right to drive these unhappy creatures in 

 crowds to the markets of Soudan and Bornou. In fact, 

 Doth the sultan and the sheik had a much deeper aim. Every 

 effort was used to induce Boo Khalloom to engage in the 

 attack of some strong Fellata posts, by which the country 

 was hemmed in ; and as the two monarchs viewed the 

 Arabs with extreme jealousy, it was strongly suspected 

 that their defeat would not have been regarded as a pubHc 

 calamity. The royal councils were secret and profound, 

 and it was not known what influences worked upon Boo 

 Khalloom. On this occasion unfortunately he was mas- 

 tered by his evil genius, and consented to the proposed 

 attack ; but as he came out and ordered his troops to pre- 

 pare for marching, his countenance bore such marks of 

 trouble that the Major asked if all went well 1 to which he 

 hurriedly answered, " Please God." The Arabs, however, 

 who at all events expected plunder, proceeded with alacrity. 

 The expedition set out next morning, and, after passing 

 through a beautiful plain, began to penetrate the mighty 

 chain of mountains which form the southern border of the 

 kingdom. Alpine heights, rising around them in rugged 

 magnificence and gigantic grandeur, presented scenery 

 which our traveller had never seen surpassed. The passes 

 of Hairey and of Horza, amid a superb amphitheatre of 

 hills, closely shut in by overhanging cliffs, more than two 

 thousand feet high, were truly striking. Here, for the first 

 time in Africa, did nature appear to the English to revel in 

 the production of vegetable life. The trees were covered 

 with luxuriant and bright green foliage ; and their trunks 

 were hidden by a crowd of parasitical plants, whose aro- 

 matic blossoms perfumed the air. There was also an 

 abundance of animal life of a less agreeable description : 

 three scorpions were killed in the tent ; and a fierce but 

 beautifiil panther, more than eight feet long, just as he had 

 gorged himself by sucking the blood of a newly-killed negro, 

 was attacked and speared. The sultan and Barca Gana 



