442 MESSENGER TO THE KING OF DOMAH. 



on shore well pleased. The natives kept a fire 

 burning all night, which we concluded they meant 

 for their safety. 



By information recently collected from the 

 natives of Obohbe, it appears that we are two 

 days' journey by land from Domah, behind the 

 hills on the right bank, which is said to abound 

 in ivory. The population of Domah is reported 

 to be large, and the people industrious. We 

 heard that the Sheik of Bornou had been at war 

 with the King of Domah two or three months 

 ago, and still possesses a hostile feeling towards 

 him. It was thought that this would be a favour- 

 able opportunity for establishing a traffic, if the 

 natives could be induced to bring down their 

 ivory ; and it was therefore arranged, that a mes- 

 senger should be despatched to the King of Do- 

 mah, to bring back with him three horses, should 

 circumstances prove favourable, and to induce 

 the natives to open a traffic for what ivory they 

 were possessed of. Jowdie was accordingly des- 

 patched with this commission, and was expected 

 to return in eight days. 



Our anchorage was by no means a desirable 

 one, the ground being low and swampy. To the 

 north-east were hills about two hundred feet 



