Chap. LVII. 
THE SYLLEBA'WA. 
177 
Syllebawa, causing a diversity of interests and pur- 
suits, is stated to be one of the reasons why 'Aliyu, 
who has been made sultan chiefly through the in- 
fluence of the Torobe, does not like to reside at 
Sokoto as well as at Wurno, although his residence 
at the latter place is greatly needed in the present 
reduced state of his power, in consequence of the 
continual danger from the Goberawa, who, if the 
sultan should stay in Sokoto, would endanger the 
safety of all the people living in the open villages 
and hamlets between the former and the present resi- 
dence ; and it was on this account that Bello built 
the town of Magariya (the site of which, a little to 
the north-east of the latter, I have indicated on a 
former occasion), which, however, was soon abandoned 
for Wurno. 
» The chief, Hamedu, was at present absent ; but I 
have mentioned already that I sent him a present im- 
mediately on my arrival in Gawasii, on account of his 
influential position, although I thought it politic after- 
wards to keep out of his way as much as possible, in 
order not to excite any jealousy, Hamedu being 
one of the nearest, if not the very nearest, to the 
succession, but opposed by the greater part of the 
present courtiers. Passing, then, along the well- 
frequented road which leads out of the town, we 
emerged from the kofa-n-'Atiku, in order to obtain 
a first glimpse of the country which I was to traverse 
on my road to Gando. 
It was an open level tract, at present without 
VOL. IV. N 
