Chap. LIX. 
bi'rni-n-kebbi. 
215 
There are two great men in the town, e Othmdn 
Lowel and 'Othman Zaki ; but the former is the real 
governor of the place, bearing the pompous but rather 
precarious title of serki-n-Kebbi — for even he, at the 
present time, possesses such limited authority, that it 
was rather out of my respect for historical connec- 
tions than for his real power*, that I made him a 
considerable present. He is a man of simple man- 
ners, without pretensions, and almost blind. His 
residence was distinguished by its neatness. The 
other great man, 'Othman Zaki, who was many years 
ago governor of Niipe, and knew Clapperton, although 
I did not pay him a visit, showed his friendship for 
me by very hospitable treatment. He has since re- 
turned to Niipe, and is rebuilding Rabba. We had a 
long conversation in the afternoon with the more re- 
spectable inhabitants, on the subject of our journey, 
and most of the people thought that I should not 
succeed in reaching the Niger, the country being in 
such a turbulent state ; but they advised me to address 
myself to the governor of Zoglrma, who was the only 
man, they said, able to assist me in my endeavours to 
traverse that part of the country with some degree 
of security. 
In the morning, we left the town in the Xu esday> 
company of a son of e Othman, a person of June 7th ' 
manly bearing and a rather European expression of 
countenance ; and traversing the fields, which were 
* For a statement of the few facts which have come to my know- 
ledge, with regard to the history of this kingdom, see Appendix. 
p 4 
