SUSPICIOUS CONDUCT OF THE KING. 79 



appeared to be about five hundred in number,* 

 many of whom bore arms. He objected to go- 

 ing on board, saying he would go and sleep, and 

 visit us again on the morrow ; but we never saw 

 any more of him. He sent several times for 

 Mr. Lander to go ashore ; but Lander did not 

 accept his invitation, and consequently never 

 saw him. 



The king's master of the horse came on board 

 this afternoon, and returned the dresses. The 

 king sent a messenger for all of us to go on shore, 

 and we were curious to know why. 



The river was still falling, and some thoughts 

 were entertained of returning to the sea-side. 

 The king also sent us notice, that if we did not 

 go on shore ourselves, we must keep our people 

 on board. This did not look well on the part 

 of the monarch. — Sent to Zagoshie for wood. 

 Heavy rain all night. 



In our inquiries respecting the course of the 

 Tchadda, Bashere, the servant of the late Capt. 

 Clapperton, and agent at Kama, (Al Hadge Sali,) 

 told us that the river runs to Begharmi, and to 

 the hills in the east ; and that it flows past the 



* For further particulars of the Magia, vide Lander's 

 Journal, and his Wanderings in Africa. 



