Chap. LXXII. PRESENTS. —INTRIGUES. 
89 
when, in the evening of the 3rd of April, the provision 
bags of the Sheikh, of which I was assured the half 
was destined for my own use, were brought out of the 
town. But, nevertheless, the final arrangements for 
my departure were by no means settled, and the fol- 
lowing day everything seemed again more uncertain 
than ever, the kadhi, Weled Faamme, having arrived 
with another body of sixty armed men, and with 
fresh orders to levy contributions of money upon the 
inhabitants, in order to make them feel the superiority 
of the ruler of Hamda-Allahi. At the same time the 
people from Tawdt set all sorts of intrigues afoot, in 
order to prevent the Sheikh from leaving the town, 
being afraid that in his absence they should be ex- 
posed to continual vexation on the part of the ruling 
tribe ; for although the Sheikho A^hmedu, in sending 
presents to Timbuktu, had not neglected El Bakdy, 
yet he had shown his preference for Hammadi, the 
rival of the latter, in so decided a manner, that my 
friend could not expect that in leaving the town his 
interests would be respected*; and I had to employ 
the whole of my influence with the Sheikh in order 
to prevent him from changing his plan. 
But, gradually, everything that my host was to take 
with him on such a journey, consisting of books and 
provisions, was brought from the town, so that it 
really looked as if El Bakay was to go himself. 
* The present sent by the Sheikho A^hmedu consisted of 800 
measures of corn to El Bakay, and as much to Hammadi, besides 
ten slaves to the latter. 
