62 
TRAVELS m AFRICA. Chap. LXXII. 
of that same day, a very serious conversation arose 
between the two brothers, Sidi Mohammed asking 
El Bakay whether they were to fight the FulMn on 
account of a single individual, and one too of a foreign 
religion ; and reproaching him at the same time with 
the fact, that his preparations did not advance, while 
on his part he did not think any preparations were 
necessary at all, as he was sure that not even the 
tribe of the Igwddaren, who are settled near Bamba, 
would do me any harm. But the Sheikh endeavoured 
to gain time, by telling his brother that he would send 
the following day for the horses from Kdbara, and 
that he would write a letter to some chiefs on the road 
through whose territory I had to pass. 
Having been a quiet spectator of this dispute I 
returned to my quarters, and in order to provide 
against any accident I packed up the remainder of 
my luggage, and made everything ready for start- 
ing. Meanwhile, Sidi Mohammed and A'lawate, in 
order to further their plans, had the same after- 
noon an appointment with 'Abidin and Hammddi, 
where they probably determined as to the course 
to be pursued with regard to me ; and El Bakay, 
who went the same evening to pay a visit to 'Abidin, 
seemed to have given a kind of half promise that 
I should leave in the afternoon of the 10th. But 
having obtained a short respite, in the course of the 
following day, he delayed my departure from day to 
day, expecting all the time the arrival of Alkiittabu. 
