496 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXIX. 
protector whom I had here, the Sheikh El Bakay. 
In acknowledgment therefore of his straightforward 
conduct, I sent him, as soon as I had again taken 
quiet possession of my quarters, some presents to 
distribute among the Tawarek, besides giving the 
head man of the latter a small extra gift, and some 
powder and Hausa cloth to distribute among our 
friends. However, my situation remained very pre- 
carious. As if a serious combat was about to ensue, 
all the inhabitants tried their firearms, and there was 
a great deal of firing in the whole town, while the 
Morocco merchants, with 'Abd e' Sal am at their head, 
endeavoured to lessen the Sheikh's regard for me, 
by informing him that not even in their country 
(Morocco) were the Christians treated with so much 
regard, not only their luggage but even their dress 
being there searched on entering the country. But 
the Sheikh was not to be talked over in this manner, 
and adhered to me without wavering for a moment. 
He then sat down and wrote a spirited and circum- 
stantial letter to Seko A'hmedu, wherein he reproached 
him with attempting to take out of his hands by 
force a man better versed in subjects of religion than 
he, the emir himself, who had come from a far distant 
country to pay him his respects, and who was his 
guest. 
The following day, while I was in the company of 
the Sheikh, the emir Kauri and the kadhi San-shirfu, 
together with several other principal personages, 
called upon him, when I paid my compliments to 
