CLAPPERTON S SECOND JOURNEY. 185 



the Arabs, Unable to rise from bed, and deserted by all 

 his African friends, who saw him no longer a favourite at 

 court, he was watched with tender care by his faithful ser- 

 vant Richard Lander, who devoted his whole time to at- 

 tendance on his sick master. At length he called him to 

 his bedside, and said — " Richard, I shall shortly be no 

 more, — I feel myself dying." Almost choked with grief, 

 Lander replied, " God forbid, my dear master, — you will 

 live many years yet." But the other rejilied, *' don't be 

 60 much affected, my dear boy, I entreat you ; it is the will 

 of the Almighty, it cannot be helped." He then gave par- 

 ticular directions as to the disposal of his papers, and of all 

 that remained of his property ; to which strict attention 

 was promised. " He then," says Lander, " took my hand 

 within his, and looking me full in the face, while a tear 

 *tood glistening in his eye, said, in a low but deeply-affect- 

 mg tone, ' My dear Richard, if you had not been with me 

 I should have died long ago ; I can only thank you with 

 my latest breath for your kindness and attachment to me ; 

 and if I could have lived to return with you, you should have 

 been placed beyond the reach of want ; but God will reward 

 you.' " He still survived some days, and appeared even to 

 rally a little ; but, one morning. Lander was alarmed by a 

 peculiar rattling sound in his throat, and, hastening to the 

 bedside, found him sitting up, and staring wdldly around ; 

 he laid his head gently on the dying man's shoulder ; some 

 indistinct words quivered on his lips ; he strove, but inef- 

 fectually, to give them utterance, and expired without a 

 struggle or a sigh. 



Bello seems to have repented in some degree of his harsh 

 conduct, especially after news arrived of a great victory 

 gained by his troops over the sultan of Bornou. He allowed 

 Lander to perform the funeral obsequies with every mark 

 of respect. He also supplied him with the means of return- 

 ing home, allowing him to choose his road, though advising 

 him to prefer that through the Great Desert ; but Lander 

 had already had too many dealings with the Arabs, and 

 therefore preferred his old track through the negro coun- 

 tries. 



On his arrival at Kano, Lander formed a spirited and 

 highly-laudable design, which proves him to be possessed 

 of a mind much superior to his station. This was nothing 



