168 DENHAM AND CLAPPERTON. 



many of his attendants started with horror, were examined 

 by the monarch with an intelligent eye. On being shown 

 the planisphere, he proved his knowledge of the planets, 

 and even of many of the constellations, by repeating their Ara- 

 bic names. The telescope, which presented objects inverted 

 — the compass, by which he could always turn to the east 

 in praying — and the sextant, which he called " the loolung- 

 glass of the sun," excited peculiar interest. Being desirous 

 to see an observation performed with the latter instru- 

 ment, Clapperton, who had lost the key of the artificial 

 horizon, asked a dagger to break it open ; upon w'hich the 

 Fultan started, and half-drew his sword, trembling like an 

 aspen leaf. The other very prudently took no notice of this 

 excitement, but quietly opened his box, when the exhibi- 

 tion soon dispelled all unfavourable impressions. The sul- 

 tan, however, inquired with evident jealousy into some 

 points of English history that had come to his knowledge ; 

 as, the conquest of India, which the traveller endeavoured 

 to represent as a mere arrangement to protect the natives, 

 and particularly the Moslem population. The attack on 

 Algiers, being also alluded to, was justly declared to have 

 been made solely on account of her atrocious piracies. 



Sackatoo appeared to Mr. Clapperton the most populous 

 city he had seen in the interior of Africa. The houses stand 

 more closely together than in most other towns of Houssa, 

 and are laid out in regularly well-built streets. It is sur- 

 lounded by a wall between twenty and thirty feet high, 

 with twelve gates, which are punctually shut at sunset. 

 The dwellings of the principal inhabitants consist of clusters 

 of cottages and flat-roofed houses, in the Moorish style, en- 

 closed by high walls. There are two mosques, one of which, 

 then in progress of building, was 800 feet long, adorned 

 with numerous pillars of wood plastered with clay, and 

 highly ornamented. 



Mr. Clapperton, desirous to accomplish what had all 

 along been his main object, solicited a guide to the western 

 countries and the Gulf of Benin. By this route he might 

 investigate the course of the Niger and the fate of Park ; he 

 might also pave the way for a commercial intercourse, which 

 would be of some benefit to Britain, and of great advantage 

 to Africa. The sultan at first gave assurances of permis- 

 sic'^ and aid in travelling through every part of his domi- 



