194 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXVI. 
He was a short, well-fed, dark-coloured man, of 
about sixty years of age, his large, broad face 
looking forth from the hood of a blue cloth berniis, 
with a neutral expression indicating, neither stupidity 
nor cleverness ; his courtiers were grouped around 
him on the ground. Having saluted him and made 
the usual polite inquiries, I expressed my ardent 
desire to reach Kukawa as soon as possible, as the 
day which I had fixed with my elder brother (Mr. 
Kichardson) for a meeting in that place was drawing 
nigh ; and I begged him, therefore, to grant me a 
guide who might conduct me there by the most direct 
road, of which 1 myself was ignorant, much time 
having been already lost in groping my way from one 
place to another. I then delivered my little present, 
consisting of an English razor and clasp-knife, a large 
mirror of German silver, a parcel of English darning- 
needles, half a pound of cloves, and a piece of scented 
soap. Having looked at these things with satisfac- 
tion, he asked me if I had not anything marvellous 
with me ; and I consented to return to my quarters 
and fetch my musical box, with the performance of 
which the ghaladima was highly pleased, but greatly 
desired to see some other curious things, such as 
pocket-pistols, whereupon I told him that I had no- 
thing else calculated to gratify his curiosity. I was 
much fatigued, and on returning to my tent was not 
at all pleased to be still troubled by the governor's 
servant, who came to ask, in the name of his master, 
for calico, sugar, rose oil, and sundry other articles. 
