4 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXII. 
and he was quite incapable of bearing the heat of the 
sun, for which reason he always carried an umbrella, 
instead of accustoming himself to it by degrees. 
There was some sinister foreboding in the circum- 
stance that I did not feel sufficient confidence to 
intrust to his care a parcel for Europe. I had sealed 
it expressly that he might take it with him to Kii- 
kawa, and send it off from that place with his own 
despatches immediately after his arrival; but at the 
moment of parting I preferred taking it myself to 
Kano. All my best friends amongst the Kel-owi 
were also going to Zmder, in order, as they said, 
to accompany their master, although only a small 
part of the salt-caravan followed that route. Over- 
weg and I remained together for two or three days 
longer. 
I felt happy in the extreme when I found myself 
once more on horseback, however deficient in beauty 
my little mare might be ; for few energetic Europeans, 
I think, will relish travelling for any length of time 
on camel's back, as they are far too dependent on 
the caprice of the animal. We set out at half-past 
seven o'clock, and soon passed on our right a village, 
and then a second one, which I think was Dakari, 
where a noble lady of handsome figure, and well 
mounted upon a bullock, joined the caravan. She 
was seated in a most comfortable large chair, which 
was fastened on the bullock's back. We after- 
wards passed on our right the town of Olalowa, 
situated on a low range of hills. In the lower plain 
