332 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXXII. 
hibiting a great number of horned cattle and asses ; 
but the more desolate appeared the extensive and at 
present useless area of the town itself, which was 
now covered with rank grass, or laid out in kitchen 
gardens, while only a few straggling cottages were 
to be seen. Although I again preferred taking up 
my quarters outside in my old place, I entered the 
town expressly in order to pay my compliments to 
the governor, and was here most hospitably treated 
by my friend, who manifested the greatest delight at 
my safe return to his province from my dangerous 
journey westward. But I had great need of the as- 
sistance of a powerful friend, as my camels were 
not able to carry my little luggage any further; 
and the good- tempered son of my old friend M6dibo 
'All, not only assisted me with camels, but also him- 
self mounted the following morning on a stately 
charger, and escorted me several miles on my road 
to Sokoto. 
I reached the old residence of the A'hel F6diye in a 
very exhausted state, having been delayed on the road 
by falling in, in the midst of a swampy fdddama, with a 
numerous caravan of asses, which entirely obstructed 
the winding watery path. But notwithstanding my 
sickness, I took extreme delight in the varied aspect 
which the country at present exhibited, in com- 
parison with the almost total nakedness which it had 
displayed, when I set out from Sokoto sixteen months 
previously; and I felt extremely grateful when I again 
