260 
CHAP. XL VI. 
SETTING OUT FOR BAGfRMI. THE COUNTRY OF Kx5tOKO. 
I had returned to the town on the 1st of February, 
1852 ; on the 4th of March I again set out on a journey 
to Bagirmi. However, I did not feel very confident 
as to the success of my enterprise. The sultan of 
Bagirmi was reported as being absent from his capital 
on an expedition to the south-east of his dominions ; 
but I was given to understand that there would be 
no great difficulty in addressing myself to the lieu- 
tenant-governor, whom he had left to represent him in 
his absence, in order to be allowed to join him, and 
to be thus enabled to explore those more southern 
regions which by myself I had no prospect of visiting. 
I introduced myself, accordingly, to the agent of that 
prince, who resides in Kiikawa. This man is a 
eunuch, who was made prisoner by the Kaniiri in the 
second battle of Ngala, and had risen to the dignity 
of mestrema, or first eunuch, of the sultan of B6rnu. 
But although I made him a small present, he received 
me rather coolly, and did not inspire me with much 
confidence as to my ultimate success. 
I had exhausted my means entirely, having been 
obliged to purchase at high prices, for credit, even 
