60 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LXXII. 
domestic circumstances therefore seemed to conspire 
in rendering it possible for him to accompany me for 
the distance of some days ; and he had really assured 
me the night before, when I was engaged in a consul- 
tation with him till near morning, that I should leave 
on the following Tuesday ; but, having had too much 
insight into his dilatory character, I told him very 
plainly that I did not believe a word of it, as he had 
disappointed me so often. And I had reason to be 
satisfied with my scepticism, as the phantom of the 
" tabu," or the great army of the Tawarek, with whose 
assistance he hoped to triumph over his enemies, did 
not allow him to adhere to any fixed plan. Now the 
" tabu " was really approaching ; and it was merely 
some unforeseen circumstance, probably owing in 
part to the machinations of the party publicly or 
secretly opposed to the authority of the Sheikh, which 
prevented the great chief of all those westerly Ta- 
warek from reaching Timbuktu, and crowning all the 
hopes and wishes of my protector. 
It was in the afternoon of the 5th that we received 
undoubted news of the approach of the tabu, the 
shepherds seeking to secure their flocks by flight, 
and all those who had reason to fear the wrath or 
anger of their mighty liege lord endeavouring to 
reach the islands and creeks of the river as a place of 
safety. A messenger who arrived from Bamba, stated 
that the tdbu had really reached the town of E^gedesh, 
a few miles beyond Bamba ; nay, even the state of 
the atmosphere seemed to confirm the news of the 
