20 
TKAVEL8 IN AFRICA. 
Chai>. XXII. 
consisted of a courtyard, fenced with mats made of 
reeds, and containing a large shed or " runfa," like- 
wise built of mats and stalks, and a tolerably spacious 
hut, the walls built of clay ("bango"), but with a 
thatched roof (" shibki"). The inner part of it was 
guarded by a cross-wall from the prying of indiscreet 
eyes. 
Overweg was not a little surprised on hearing 
the recent news ; and we sent for El Wakhshi, 
our Ghadamsi friend from Tin-teggana, in order to 
consult him, as one who had long resided in these 
countries, and who, we had reason to hope, would be 
uninfluenced by personal considerations. He firmly 
pronounced his opinion that we ought not to go, 
and afterwards, when Farraji called Manzo and Al 
Wali to his aid, entered into a violent dispute with 
these men, who advised us to go ; but he went too 
far in supposing that the letter had been written with 
a malicious intention. For my part, I could well 
imagine that the step was authorized by the sheikh 
of B6rnu, or at least by his vizier, who might have 
heard long ago of our intention to go to Kan6, 
as it had been even Mr. Richardson's intention to go 
there, which indeed he ought to have done in con- 
formity with his written obligations to Mohammed 
e' Sfaksi ; they might therefore have instructed the 
sherif to do what he might think fit to prevent us 
from carrying out our purpose. However, it seemed 
not improbable that Liisu had something to do with 
the affair. But it was absolutely necessary for Mr. 
