clapperton's second journey. 179 



Boussa. We shall follow him at present to the former place, 

 where he did not iind any of his baggage, but learned that 

 the widow, having placed it under arrest, had left Wawa 

 with drums beating and a numerous train ; and besides, 

 that she claimed a full right to his person, because his ser- 

 vant Pascoe had accepted a wife at her hand. It was whis- 

 pered, moreover, that she was meditating to supplant the 

 governor, — a scheme which, aided by the personal bravery 

 of the strangers, she might probably realize, — and afterward 

 she meant to invite the Captain to ascend the throne of 

 Wawa. " It would have been a fine end to my journey in- 

 deed," says he, " if I had deposed old Mohammed, and set 

 up for myself, with a walking tunbutt for a queen." Scarcely 

 had he received this account when a present from the widow 

 intimated her arrival in a neighbouring village. Our au- 

 thor, however, insensible to all the brilliant hopes thus 

 opened, set oft" full speed for Wawa to recover his baggage. 

 On his arrival, the governor refused to liberate it till Zuma's 

 return, — Clapperton in vain protesting that his movements 

 and hers had no sort of connexion. However, next day, 

 the sound of drums was heard, and the widow made her 

 entree in full pomp, astride on a very fine horse, with hous- 

 ings of scarlet cloth, trimmed with lace. The large cir- 

 cumference of her own person was invested in a red silk 

 mantle, red trowsers, and morocco boots ; and numerous 

 spells, sewed variously in coloured leather, were hung all 

 round her. She was followed by a train of armed attend- 

 ants, and preceded by a drummer decked in ostrich feathers. 

 On the whole, the scene was so splendid, that our hero's re- 

 solution seems for a moment to have wavered. However, 

 his part was soon taken. Pascoe was directed to return 

 his wife, and thus extinguish all claim that could be founded 

 upon her ; and having received his baggage, our country- 

 man set forward without even admitting the fond widow to 

 any farther conference. 



On his way to Comie, Clapperton had visited Boussa, 

 a place chiefly interesting as the scene where the career of 

 Park terminated in a manner so tragical. Every thing 

 tended to confirm the report of Amadi Fatouma, and to 

 dispel the skepticism with which it had been originally re- 

 garded. The king, however, and all the citizens, spoke of 

 the event with deep grief and reluctance, and disavowed all 



