Chap. L. 
ASKED FOR A CANNOX. 
415 
their thinking I was supplied with such an article, 
while my whole luggage was carried on the back of 
one weak she-camel, they stated that the sultan was 
at least anxious to know whether I was not able to 
manufacture one myself. Having professed my in- 
ability to do so, they went away, but returned the next 
day, with many compliments from their master, who, 
they said, was anxious that I should accept from his 
hands a handsome female slave, of whose charms 
they gave a very eloquent description, and that it 
was also his intention to furnish me with a camel, 
and provide me with two horsemen who should escort 
me back to Bornu. I told them that, although sen- 
sible of my solitary situation, I could not accept such 
a thing as a slave from the sultan, and that I did not 
care about anything else but permission to depart, 
except that I should feel obliged to him if he would 
give me a few specimens of their manufactures. 
They then promised that the next day I should 
have another audience with the sultan ; and they kept 
their word. 
This time also I was only able to address the sultan 
without seeing him, when I repeated my request 
that he would allow me to depart without any fur- 
ther delay, as I had most urgent business in Kiikawa; 
but I received the answer that, although the road 
was open to me, the sultan, as the powerful ruler of 
a mighty kingdom, could not allow me to depart 
empty-handed. I then, in order to further my re- 
quest, presented him with a small telescope, in the 
