292 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. XXX. 
rainy season ; the partisans of the old dynasty were en- 
tirely crushed, the last prince of that family slain, the 
residence of the sultans levelled to the ground, and even 
the remembrance of the old times was almost effaced. 
There remained to be feared only his brother 'Abd e' 
Rahman. 'Abd e' Rahman was a good soldier, but a 
man of a very loose and violent character. When a 
youth he had committed all sorts of violence and in- 
justice, carrying off young brides by force, to indulge 
his passions : he was besides a man of little intelli- 
gence. Being but a few months younger than 'Omar, 
he thought himself equally entitled to the succession ; 
and if once admitted into a high position in the em- 
pire, he might be expected to abuse his influence on 
the very first opportunity. 
Sheikh 'Omar, therefore, could not but choose to 
confide rather in the intelligent son of his old min- 
ister, the faithful companion in the field and coun- 
sellor of his father, than in his own fierce and jealous 
brother ; and all depended upon the behaviour of 
Haj Beshfr, and upon the discretion with which he 
should occupy and maintain his place as first, or 
rather only minister of the kingdom. Assuredly his 
policy should have been to conciliate, as much as 
possible, all the greater " kokanawa " or courtiers, in 
order to undermine the influence of 'Abd e' Rahman, 
whom it might be wise to keep at a respectful dis- 
tance. But in this respect the vizier seems to have 
made great mistakes, his covetousness blinding him 
to his principal advantages ; for covetous he cer- 
