180 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



else sooner or later, a tragic tale of suffering and neglect 

 will be unfolded. 



At sunrise Gosling was upon the road again and a march 

 of seven miles brought him into Kukawa. The Shehu — 

 or Sultan of Bornu — on learning of his approach, went out 

 with all his retinue to welcome him, but unfortunately took 

 the wrong road and missed him. Here he stayed two nights 

 to collect fresh transport animals, which were obtained 

 with very great trouble, and then six miserable ones were all 

 tliat could be got, and one of these had a hole right into its 

 ribs. 



Next day the Shehu, gorgeously attired and surrounded 

 by a mounted guard, came to pay him a visit and Gosling 

 gave him a present of cloth and two plates embellished with 

 portraits of the King and Queen, with which he was im- 

 mensely delighted. This day a letter arrived from Talbot, 

 asking Gosling to go on to Maifoni, as he had not been 

 able to continue the survey towards Kukawa, owing to 

 my brother's illness ; but he reported that the latter was 

 improving slowly. Accordingly, Gosling set out the follow- 

 ing morning on a ten hours' march to Mongonnu. The 

 effort knocked up the wretched oxen, and he was obliged 

 to wait till late the next day to collect fresh animals. 

 Only two were obtainable, but fortunately three camel 

 drivers volunteered the services of their camels as far as 

 Maifoni. These turned out a great success and soon walked 

 the oxen off their legs, and the latter had to be changed 

 once more upon the journey. Wulo was reached at midnight, 

 and soon after a runner came in with the very bad news 

 that my brother was dangerously ill. Leaving at dusk the 



