Chap, xxvii. kher-a'lla, the slave vizier. 235 
after a little more than three miles, we passed on our 
left. Further on the kom&dugu again approached on 
the same side ; and we were obliged to go round it in 
a sharp angle to reach the village where the Kashella 
had his residence. 
Having pitched the tent, I went to pay him my 
compliments, and had the satisfaction to find him 
a friendly, cheerful person, who at once ordered one 
of his best men to mount and to start for Kiikawa, 
in order to carry to the vizier the news of my 
arrival. He is a liberated slave, who, having distin- 
guished himself by his valour in the unfortunate 
battle at Kiisuri, has been stationed here at the 
vizier's suggestion. His power, however, is not great, 
considering the wide extent of the district which 
he has to protect, as he has only seventy horsemen 
under his command, twenty of whom are constantlv 
employed in watching the motions of the predatory 
bands of the Tawarek. These are chiefly the in- 
habitants of the little principality of Alakkos, of which 
I have had occasion to speak above, who, like all the 
Tawarek, in general are not very fond of serious 
fighting, but rather try to carry off a good booty, in 
slaves or cattle, by surprise. Kher-Alla has already 
done a great deal for the security and welfare of the 
district where he resides, the population of which is 
intermixed with Tebu elements, and cannot be trusted ; 
but he evidently cannot extend his protecting hand 
much further westward than A'jiri. 
Feeling deeply the disgraceful state of this, the 
