232 
TRAVELS IN" AFRICA. Chap. LXXVIII. 
entertained ; but that such expressions had only refer- 
ence to human speculation. But, although as a Mo- 
hammedan he could not entirely concur in such a 
doctrine, being overawed by the authority of the 
Kuran, yet, having before his eyes the beautiful 
panorama of the hemisphere, he became quite con- 
vinced that on the whole I was right ; although, shut 
up within the narrow walls of his room in the town, 
he had always thought it both absurd and profane to 
assert such a thing. 
Wednesday, ^as ready for our departure, when 
July 5th. xhakkefi, the cousin of the present ruler of 
the Awelimmiden, and son of the late powerful chief 
E' Nabegha, joined us with a few of his companions, 
among whom Soheb was the most conspicuous. The 
arrival of this important personage caused us fresh 
delay, which, however, on the whole, was agreeable 
to me, as he was authorized by Alkiittabu to grant 
me full franchise and perfect security for all English- 
men travelling or trading in their territory ; and in 
the course of conversation he even made the remark- 
able proposal to me, that the English should en- 
deavour, by means of a strong expedition up the 
river, to establish regular intercourse with them. 
Meanwhile, the chiefs of the Kel e' Siik departed 
for their respective homes, holding forth the pro- 
spect that 1 myself might soon follow. Thdkkefi 
stayed with me almost the whole of the day, inspect- 
ing my effects with the greatest curiosity and atten- 
tion. He was a fine tall man, possessed of great 
