184 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LXXVI. 
of the population of Tademekka, of whose virtue 
El Bekri speaks in rather doubtful terms. 
Less agreeable than the company of these people 
was the arrival of the blind Simsim, who, it seems, 
had been rather disappointed in his expectation of 
having his sight restored, although my friend had con- 
trived to get from him a present of a camel and a 
female slave. We were here also at length joined by 
A'hmed Waddwi, the principal pupil of the Sheikh, 
whom I scarcely expected to see again ; but being 
fully aware of the slow and deliberate character of his 
master, he felt convinced that he could never come 
too late. Altogether I was glad that he had arrived, 
for although apt to make great pretensions, and being 
inspired with too great zeal for his creed, he was never- 
theless a cheerful and good-natured man, and, on ac- 
count of his considerable learning and his knowledge 
of the Tawarek chiefs, might be of great service to 
me after having separated from the Sheikh. He had, 
besides, acquired some useful experience with regard to 
the difference between the straightforward and trust- 
worthy character of a Christian, and the treachery 
and cunning of an Arab ; for having in the beginning 
constantly taken the part of my former guide, Weled 
A'mmer Walati, against myself, he had been cheated 
in return for his friendship by that rascal, and in 
order to get from him what was due to him, had 
been obliged to pursue him to A^ribmda. He brought 
the news from Timbuktu that the rebel chief A'khbi, 
whom we had been unable to persuade to return to 
