416 
TRAVELS IN AFKICA. 
Chap. L. 
use of which I instructed his people. Having re- 
turned to my quarters, I assured my friends, who 
came to inform me that it was the sultan's intention 
to make me a splendid present in return for those I 
had given him, that I did not care for anything 
except a speedy return to Bornu, as there was no 
prospect that I should be allowed to penetrate further 
eastward. But all my protests proved useless, as these 
people were too little acquainted with the European 
character, and there were too many individuals who, 
if I myself did not care about getting anything, were 
anxious to obtain something for themselves ; I was 
therefore obliged to abandon myself to patience and 
resignation. 
Meanwhile I learnt that the sultan had at first 
entertained the fear that I might poison him or kill 
him by a charm, and that he had repeatedly consulted 
with his learned men and counsellors how he should 
protect himself against my witchcraft. However, on 
the second day after my first audience he gave me 
the satisfaction of sending the inspector of the river, 
or the khalifa ba, together with that servant of his 
(or kashella) who had put me into chains at Mele, in 
order to beg my pardon officially, which of course 
I granted them most cordially, as I was too w r ell 
aware that a traveller in a new country cannot 
expect to be well treated. As for that Piillo or 
Fellata individual, resident in Bagirmi, who (by in- 
spiring the ferry-men at the frontier with fear 
and suspicion concerning my entering the country) 
