74 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXTI. 
we approached the outskirts of the A'beraz, and 
there took up our position. But the Fullan and 
Songhay, who had likewise assembled at the beating of 
the alarm drum, being arranged in front of us, notwith- 
standing their cowardly disposition, it did not seem 
likely that we should be allowed to get inside the 
town without bloodshed, and I protested repeatedly to 
the Sheikh, that nothing was more repugnant to my 
feelings, than that blood should be shed on my ac- 
count, and perhaps his own life be endangered. 
Meanwhile numerous messengers were sent back- 
wards and forwards, till my protector and host, 
whose feelings had been deeply wounded, declared 
that he would allow me to remain outside the town, 
if the Fullan would withdraw their force so as to put 
every thing in his own hands, and would promise to 
leave my house untouched. And he strictly kept his 
word ; for, while he himself entered the place with 
A'lawate, he allowed me to return to the tents in the 
company of his elder brother. We did not arrive at 
the encampment before three o'clock in the morning, 
for we lost our road in the pale moonlight, and be- 
came entangled among the numerous creeks of Bose- 
bango, while we suffered at the same time greatly 
from hunger, and the coolness of the night. Such was 
the sole result of this night's campaign. 
The following day we received the news from an 
Uraghen, who arrived from the east, of the tabu 
having returned eastward, in consequence of a serious 
quarrel having broken out between the tribes of the 
