Chap. LXXXIII. NEWS FROM KU'KAWA. 
363 
the safer route by the Tebu country, especially as I 
received the news of a most sanguinary struggle 
having taken place between the Kel-owi and the Kel- 
geres. In this struggle a great many of the noblest 
men of the former were said to have fallen, together 
with several hundred of the common people on both 
sides. I was sorry to hear that in this struggle my 
best friends had succumbed. 
Meanwhile the news from Kiikawa remained very 
unsatisfactory, and false rumours were continually 
brought from thence. Thus it was reported on 
the 1st November that the Sugiirti had vanquished 
'Omar, who had made his escape accompanied only 
by a couple of horsemen ; and it was not until the 
9th that we received trustworthy news that he was 
holding his position steadily against the intrigues 
of the party of his brother, whom he kept in prison. 
It was with great satisfaction, that I saw messengers 
from 'Omar arrive, in the course of a few days, in 
order to present his compliments to the governor 
of this place. I at once had them called to my 
house, and made them a few presents, in order to 
express my satisfaction at their master having re- 
covered his kingdom, and still holding his position ; 
for it was a most important point with me to see my 
road to Bornu clear, and to meet there with Mr. 
Yogel and his party, in order to give him my ad- 
vice and assistance with respect to the countries 
which it was most desirable that he should explore. 
But in the situation in which I was thus placed, it 
