94 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LV. 
was in reality miserably off, or that he felt obliged to 
pretend poverty and misery. He understood Arabic 
tolerably well, although he only spoke very little. He 
expressed much regret on hearing of the death of Mr. 
Overweg, whom he had known during his residence 
in Maradi ; but having heard how strictly Europeans 
adhere to their promise, he expressed his astonishment 
that he had never received an Arabic New Testament, 
which Mr. Overweg had promised him. But I was 
glad to be able to inform him that it was not the fault 
of my late lamented companion, who, I knew, had 
forwarded a copy to him, by way of Zinder, immedi- 
ately after his arrival in Kiikawa. Fortunately I had 
a copy or two of the New Testament with me, and 
therefore made him very happy by adding this book 
to the other little presents which I gave him. When 
I left the company of this man, T was obliged to take 
a drink of furd with Serki-n-turdwa — however, not as 
a proof of sincere hospitality, but as a means of beg- 
ging some further things from me ; and I was glad at 
length to get rid of this troublesome young fellow. 
Friday, We na( ^ been so fortunate as to be joined 
February 4th. k ere a ^ Gazawa by two small parties be- 
longing to the salt-caravan of the Kehowi, when, 
having taken in a sufficient supply of water, and 
reloaded all our firearms, we commenced our march, 
about half-past two o'clock in the morning, through 
the unsafe wilderness which intervenes between the 
independent Hausa states and that of the Fiilbe. The 
forest was illumed by a bright moonlight ; and we 
