Chap. L. 
REWARD OF FRIENDS. 
423 
of affairs in the country of "VYaday was exceedingly 
unfavourable at the time, a destructive civil war 
having just raged, and matters not being yet settled. 
My own situation in this country, moreover, was too 
uncertain to allow me to have sufficient supplies sent 
after me, to embark in such a grand enterprise ; and 
besides, although I had become fully aware of the 
great interest which attaches to the empire of Waday, 
as well owing to the considerable extent of its political 
power, as on account of the great variety of elements 
of which it is composed, and also on account of its 
lying on the water-parting between the basin of the 
Tsad and that of the Nile, I felt quite sure that the 
western part of Negroland, along the middle course of 
the so-called Niger, was a far nobler and more fruitful 
field for my exertions. However, there was one fa- 
vourable circumstance for attempting at that time a 
journey into Waday, as the messengers of the sultan 
(or rather of Jerma or Zerma, one of the most 
powerful officers in that country, who has the inspec- 
tion of this province), were at present here, in order 
to collect the tribute which Bagfrmi, in its present 
reduced state, has to pay to its mightier neighbour. 
As for my friend the sherif Sliman, he behaved 
like a gentleman on this occasion, refusing my shirts, 
but begging for a little camphor and a pair of 
English scissors. 
After all the delay was overcome, I at 
tit , iii i August 8th. 
length became aware what had been the 
cause of it ; for in the afternoon of that day my noble 
E E 4 
