50 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LXXI. 
for some time, my situation, after a short respite, soon 
assumed again a serious character, and hostile ele- 
ments were gathering from different quarters; for, 
while a very important mission was just approaching 
from Hamda-Alldhi, on the 25th we received the news 
that 'Abidm, that member of the family of Mukhtar 
who followed a policy entirely opposite to that of El 
Bakay, was reported to be near, and he was conducted 
into the town by Hammddi with considerable display. 
In the morning of the following day, just as the at- 
mosphere changed from bright to gloomy, a powerful 
Pullo officer, and a prince of the blood, Hamedu, a son 
of Mohammed Lebbo, entered the town with a nu- 
merous troop on horseback and on foot, among whom 
Avere ten musketeers. They marched past my house 
on purpose, although the direct road from Kabara 
did not lead that way, in order to frighten me, while 
I, with the intention of showing them that they had 
entirely failed in their object, opened the door of my 
house, displaying in the hall all my firearms, and my 
people close at hand ready to use them. 
* But my little band became more and more reduced, 
for when the chief of my followers, the Mejebri, *Ali el 
A'geren, saw a fresh storm gathering against me, he 
disclaimed any further obligation towards me, not- 
withstanding the salary which he continued to re- 
ceive. But, as I had given him up long before, this 
further manifestation of his faithlessness did not make 
a great impression upon me. On the other hand, I 
had attached to myself, by the present which I had 
