CuAr. XXXVI. 
THE AUDIENCE. 
491 
sixteen feet high, and consisting of a rather heavy 
entablature of poles, in order to withstand the vio- 
lence of the rains. The governor was very simply 
dressed, and had nothing remarkable in his appear- 
ance, while his face, which was half-covered by a 
somewhat dirty shawl, had an indifferent expression. 
Besides him there were none present but Mansur and 
a mallem. 
Having, as the first European that had ever visited 
his country with the distinct purpose to enter into 
friendly relations with him, paid him my respects on 
behalf of my countrymen, I delivered my letter of 
introduction from Sheikh 'Omar, who in a few but 
well-chosen lines introduced me to him as a learned 
and pious Christian, who wandered about to ad- 
mire the works of the Almighty Creator, and on this 
account cherished an ardent desire to visit also 
A'damawa, of the wonders of which I had heard so 
much. Lowel read it, and evidently not quite dis- 
pleased with its contents, although he took umbrage 
at some of the expressions, handed it silently over to 
the mallem and Mansur. Hereupon Billama delivered 
his letters, of which not only the contents, but even 
the very existence had been totally unknown to me. 
They were three in number, one from the sheikh him- 
self, one from Mala Ibram, the former possessor of 
the southern province of Bornu, and one from Kashella 
'Ali Dendal, or Ladan, the officer who by his late 
predatory incursion had given grounds for complaint. 
As soon as these various letters were read, all of 
