Chap. LXXXI. A HA'USA NOBLEMAN. 
309 
place situated in the midst of the corn-fields, and at 
present empty, we reached the village of Bashi, where 
we expected to find quarters prepared for us, but 
were only able, after a great deal of delay, to procure 
a rather indifferent place. 
We were glad to meet here a native traveller, or 
mai-falk6, from Wurno, who communicated to us the 
most recent news from Hausa and Kebbi, although 
very little was to be told of the chivalrous deeds of 
the two great Fellani chiefs 'Aliyu and Khalilu, both 
of whom were accelerating the ruin of their nation. 
About an hour after our arrival, we were joined by 
a native duke, who, according to the arrangement of 
the governor of Tdmkala, was to perform the journey 
through the unsafe wilderness of Fogha in our com- 
pany. This man was 'Abdii serki-n-Chiko, lord of 
' Chiko, or, to speak correctly, lord of the wilderness; 
his title, or " rawani " (properly shawl or turban), 
being just as empty and vain as many others in 
Europe, the town of Chiko having many years previ- 
ously been destroyed by the enemy. But, whatever the 
hollowness of his title might be, he himself was of 
noble birth, being the son of 'Abd e' Salam who was 
well-known as being once the independent master of 
the important and wealthy town of Jega, which had 
made so long and successful resistance against 
'Othmdn, the Jihadi ; Bokhari, the present ruler of 
that place, was 'Abdii's brother. Besides his noble 
* The original residence of 'Abd e' Salam had been Kori, from 
whence he had carried on war with 'Othmiin for five years. 
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