Chap. XXXVIII. INTENDED EXCURSION TO KA'nEM. 7 
as I have already mentioned, he had at first repre- 
sented as impossible. The news from Kanem, how- 
ever, was now favourable ; but as I shall speak in 
another place of the political state of this distracted 
country, and of the continual struggle between 
Bornu and Waday, I need only mention here that 
the Welad Slirnan, who had become a mercenary 
band attached to the vizier, had been successful 
during their last expedition, and were reported on 
the very day of my return from A'damawa to have 
made a prize of 150 horses and a great many camels, 
which, however, was a great exaggeration. 
We were well acquainted with the character of 
these people, who are certainly the most lawless rob- 
bers in the world ; but as it was the express wish 
of the British government that we should endeavour 
to explore the regions bordering on the lake, there 
was no course open to us, but to unite our pursuits 
with theirs ; besides, they were prepared in some mea- 
sure for such a union, for, while they inhabited the 
grassy lands round the great Syrtis, they had come 
into frequent contact with the English. We had no 
choice, for all the districts to the north-east and 
east of the Tsad were at present in a certain degree 
dependent on Waday, then at war with Bornu, 
and we were told at the commencement that we 
might go anywhere except to Waday. Instead of 
fighting it out with his own people, which certainly 
would have been the most honourable course, the 
vizier had ventured to make use of the remnant of 
B 4 
