Chap. XXXI. 
MERCANTILE INTKIGUES. 
345 
They also expressed their desire that two of their 
people might return with us to England, in order to 
see the country and its industry, which we told them 
we were convinced would be most agreeable to the 
British Government. Our conversation was so unre- 
strained and friendly, that the sheikh himself took 
the opportunity of excusing himself for having ap- 
propriated Mr. Richardson's watch. 
But the following narrative will show how Euro- 
pean travellers, endeavouring to open these countries 
to European intercourse, have to struggle against the 
intrigues of the Arabs ; who are well aware that as 
soon as the Europeans, or rather the English, get 
access to Negroland, not only their slave-trade, but 
even their whole commerce, as they now carry it on, 
will be annihilated. 
We had scarcely re-entered our house when, the 
rumour spreading through the Arab quarter of the 
manner in which we had been received, and of the. 
matters talked of, El Khodr, a native of Dar-Fiir, and 
the foremost of the native traders, went to the sheikh 
with the news that seven large vessels of the English 
had suddenly arrived at Nupe, and that the natives 
were greatly afraid of them. This announcement 
was soon found to be false, but nevertheless it served 
its purpose, to cool a little the friendly and bene- 
volent feeling which had been manifested towards 
us. 
The following day we went to pitch the large 
double tent, which we had given to the sheikh, on 
