Chap. LXI. THE ARAB FROM THE WEST. 
283 
certainly a very remarkable fellow ; and I shall 
have frequent occasion, in the farther course of my 
journey, to advert to his doings. Being originally a 
native of Walata, he had emigrated to Timbuktu, 
whence he had roved about a great deal among 
the Tawarek as well as among the Fiilbe, and was 
at present on his way from Belanga, the residence 
of one of the principal chiefs of Grurma. He had a 
good quantity of the broad gabaga, or cotton strips, of 
Mosi with him, which form the staple currency in the 
whole tract of country from Libtako to Timbuktu, 
ten dra being reckoned equal to one hundred shells. 
Besides Arabic, he spoke Fulfulde, Songhay, Mosi, 
and Bambara fluently, and Temashight, or the lan- 
guage of the Tawarek, almost as well, and altogether 
was one of the cleverest men whom I met on my 
journey, in spite of the trouble he caused me and 
the tricks he played me. He was a handsome man, of 
middle size and of rather slender growth, and with 
very fine expressive features. His dress consisted of 
a long black gown, with a black shawl wound round 
his head ; and his whole appearance, as he was moving 
along at a solemn thoughtful pace, frequently re- 
minded me of the servants of the Inquisition. How- 
ever, his real character at the time of our first meet- 
ing was, of course, unknown to me, and I was delighted 
at having found such a man, as he held out to me the 
fairest prospects of reaching Timbuktu. But although 
I convinced myself that this man would be of great 
service to me, yet I did not make a bargain with him 
