Chap. XXXIX. DELIGHT OF OPEN ENCAMPMENT. 25 
attachment to me in the course of time that I after- 
wards granted him a dollar a month, and he did not 
obtain two dollars till my leaving Zfnder, in January, 
1853, on my way to Timbuktu, when I was obliged 
to augment the salary of all my people. This lad 
followed me with my two camels. 
All was fertility and vegetation, though these fields 
near the capital are certainly not the best situated in 
Bornu. I felt strengthened by the fresh air, and fol- 
lowed the eastern path, which did not offer any 
place for an encampment. Looking round I saw at 
length two of my men coming towards us, and found 
to the left of the track, on a little sandy eminence, a 
convenient spot for pitching my tent. I felt happy 
in having left the monotony and closeness of the 
town behind me. Nothing in the world makes me 
feel happier than a wide, open country, a commodious 
tent, and a fine horse. But I was not quite comfort- 
able ; for, having forgotten to close my tent, I was 
greatly annoyed by the mosquitoes, which prevented 
my getting any sleep. The lake being very near, 
the dew was so heavy that next morning my tent 
was as wet as if it had been soaked with water. 
Notwithstanding these inconveniences, I 
... . . _ ... Sept. 12th. 
awoke m the morning with a grateful heart, 
and cared little about the flies, which soon began to 
attack me. I sat down outside the tent to enjoy my 
liberty: it was a fine morning, and I sat for hours 
tranquilly enjoying the most simple landscape (the 
lake not being visible, and scarcely a single tree in 
