442 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LI. 
who had been on bad terms with his father during his 
lifetime, and in consequence had spent several years 
in Giirin, at that time the capital of A'damawa. 
This prince had a narrow escape from a great danger 
in the first month of his reign, when Mohammed Saleh, 
the ruler of Waday, advanced with his army towards 
the west, so that 'Abd el Kader thought it best to 
leave his capital, carrying with him all his people 
and riches, and to withdraw towards Mankhfa, where 
he is said to have prepared for battle, taking up his 
position behind the river, and placing all the boats 
on his wings. But the sultan of Waday, seeing that 
he occupied a strong position, sent him word that he 
would do him no harm as long as he preserved the 
allegiance confirmed by the oath of his father ; and 
he really does not seem to have done any damage 
to the people of Bagirmi, with the exception of de- 
priving them of their dress, the common black shirt, 
of which the people of Waday are very jealous, as 
they themselves are not acquainted with the art of 
dyeing. 
This danger having passed by, e Abd el Kader, who 
is described to me, by all those who have had oppor- 
tunities of closer intercourse with him, as being a 
person of sound judgment, and who likes to do 
justice, though it may be true he is not very liberal, 
thought it best to keep on good terms also with 
his western neighbours the Kanuri ; and his friendly 
relations with the present ruler of that country were 
facilitated by the circumstance that his mother was 
