326 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chai>. LX1I. 
lowing day ; and as in consequence it would have 
been highly imprudent to endeavour to pass him un- 
noticed, I determined to send two of my men to him 
with a present, while I pursued my journey with the 
rest of my people. But as this governor was a vassal 
of the chief of Hamda-Allahi, who, if he had heard that 
I was a Christian, would probably have thrown great 
difficulties in my way, and perhaps not allowed 
me to proceed at all, I was not without great anx- 
iety, and passed a sleepless night ; and the crowd 
of people who had come out from the camp on the 
news of a distinguished stranger having arrived, and 
who completely surrounded me on my setting out, was 
far from agreeable. At length we started, traversing 
a district of red sandy soil, and overgrown with 
