Chat. L. 
PRESENT FROM THE SULTAN. 
421 
I remained without ; but I was told, upon inquiry, 
that the slaves who were ordered to bring me my 
food used to keep it for themselves. 
It was not till this day that I became con- 
J August 1st. 
vinced that my departure was close at 
hand, from the fact that the slaves of my host began 
to dig up the soil in my courtyard, in order to sow 
it with deraba or bamiya {Hibiscus esculentus) ; for if 
I had been going to stay longer, my camel would 
soon have destroyed the see d But nevertheless se- 
veral days elapsed before affairs were finally settled . 
At length in the afternooon, there came 
a long cortege from the sultan, conducted by August 6th ' 
Zerma or Kadamange, Sabiin, and Kanadf, with a pre- 
sent of fifty shirts of every kind, and which altogether 
might be valued at about thirty dollars. Among the 
shirts were seven of a better sort, all of which I sent 
to England, with the exception of one, which was very 
light, consisting of silk and cotton, and which I kept 
for my own wear ; there were besides, twenty-three 
white ones of a better kind, and twenty common 
market-tobes. 
While presenting me with this royal gift, and ex- 
plaining that the sultan was sorry that I would not 
accept from his hands anything more valuable, either 
slaves or ivory, Zerma announced to me officially 
that I might now start when I thought proper ; that 
hitherto neither the people of Bagirmi had known me 
nor I them, but that if I were to return I might re- 
gard Bagirmi as my own country. While expressing 
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