502 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXIX 
Kauri, whom he represented as disobedient, and al- 
most rebellious to his liege lord. A friend of the 
latter, who knew the cowardly disposition of the 
speaker, then rose in the assembly, and exhorted the 
kadhi to lead the van, and proceed to the attack, 
when every one would follow him. But the kadhi 
not choosing to expose his own person to danger 
nothing was done, and the assembly separated, every 
one going quietly to his home. 
Meanwhile the two Tawarek chiefs, with their prin- 
cipal men, were assembled in the house of the Sheikh, 
where I went to meet them, but found them not quite 
satisfied with the part which they were acting. They 
entered into a warm dispute with me upon the subject 
of religion, but soon found themselves so perplexed, 
that they left it to the Sheikh to answer all my 
objections. A Protestant Christian may easily de- 
fend his creed against these children of the desert, 
as long as they have not recourse to arms. 
Next morning we left the narrow lanes of Tim- 
buktu, and entered upon the open sandy desert, accom- 
panied by the two Tawarek chiefs, each of whom had 
fifteen companions. The tents being now further 
removed from the town, near the border of the inun- 
dations of the river, the camping ground was pleasant, 
and well adorned with trees ; and having taken my 
own tent with me, where I could stretch myself out 
without being infested by the vermin which sw r arm 
in the native carpets, I enjoyed the open encampment 
extremely. Leathern tents had been pitched for the 
