Chap. XLII. SLAVERY AND SLAVE-TRADE. 
135 
authority, seems scarcely sufficient to hold out any 
guarantee of the stability of his dynasty. More- 
over, the slave- trade at present is, in fact, abolished 
on the north coast ; and this circumstance must 
eventually exercise a great influence over the desti- 
nies of Bornu, on account of its central situation, 
especially if at length a regular intercourse be esta- 
blished on the river Benuwe. 
It was our lot to remain here several days ; for 
while the Kamiri people, who were expected to join 
the expedition, had already assembled in sufficient 
numbers, only a very small portion of the in- 
digenous Arab or Shiiwa population had as yet 
come up ; for almost all of them live in the south- 
eastern parts of the country, where they have taken 
possession of the deserted seats of former tribes, 
which were annihilated or weakened in the relentless 
wars between Islamism and Paganism. 
On the first day of our arrival, our encampment 
was very comfortable ; but every day that we stayed 
here it became more confined, owing principally to 
the numerous cavalry of these Arab tribes, almost 
all of whom are mounted ; and many a new-comer 
was seen hurrying about without being able to find 
a spot to lie down, or to meet with friends to treat 
him. I myself had to entertain a respectable man 
among these Shiiwa, of the name of Haj Ham ad an, 
belonging to the tribe of the Hasiinna. 
This man, who generally had his settlement far to 
the east, in the Wadi Guskab, had come some time 
K 4 
