FRIENDLY BEHAVIOUR OF ABBOKA. 263 



peared very glad indeed to see me. After tak- 

 ing off his tobes, charms, &c. I invited him down 

 into the cabin, where at his own request he 

 made oath on the edge of a sword, and an Ara- 

 bic Bible, * that he, together with the king and 

 Mallam, had signed an agreement to protect 

 the ship, and that having heard that Gabbre- 

 ducco intended to attack us, he immediately ap- 

 prised me of it. Gabbreducco, he said, had been 

 to the king three times, endeavouring to induce 

 him to give his consent, and make war upon us 

 in order to obtain possession of the vessel and 

 plunder her. 



The king had kept this villanous design of 

 Gabbreducco a profound secret from Abboka, 

 who observed to me, with much earnestness, 

 " When the palaver is with you, the palaver is 

 likewise with me, since it was I who first brought 

 white man into the country. When my head is 

 cut off, then you must take care of your own ; but 

 whilst I am alive, I will be answerable for any in- 

 jury to you." 



Such friendly conversation was really gratify- 



* A large number of copies of the Old and New Testa- 

 ment, in Arabic, were taken out and presented to the kings, 

 chiefs, and head Mallams. 



