64 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXIII. 
" Christian book," bound in leather, with edges and 
lock made of metal, in the possession of a Pullo or 
Ba-Fellanchi in the town ; but no one could tell me 
whether it was manuscript or print, and although I 
offered to pay for a sight of it, I never succeeded in 
my object. It might be one of those heavy books 
which Clapperton, when dying, told Lander rather to 
leave behind than take with him to England. 
Tuesday, ^ at length succeeded in arranging 
January 28th. ma tters with the governor. Early in the 
morning I sent Mohammed to El Wakhshi in order 
to try and settle the business, telling him that I was 
ready to make any possible sacrifice ; and he sent 
me a bernus for fifty-two thousand kurdi. While I 
was hesitating about contracting a new debt of such 
magnitude (in my poor circumstances), Bel-Ghet, 
who evidently feared that if I gave one large present 
to the governor, he himself would get nothing, inti- 
mated to me that it would be better to choose several 
small articles. El Wakhshi therefore procured a caf- 
tan of very common velvet, a carpet, a sedriye or 
close waistcoat, and a shawl, which altogether did 
not exceed the price of thirty-one thousand kurdi, so 
that I saved more than twenty thousand. In order, 
however, to give to the whole a more unpremeditated, 
honorary, and professional appearance, I added to it a 
pencil, a little frankincense, and two strong doses of 
Epsom salts. 
While Bel-Ghet was engaged in negotiating peace 
for me with the eccentric governor, I went with El 
