376 
TRAVELS m AFRICA. Chap. LXXXIII. 
no idea of the difficulties with which such a pro- 
ceeding would be accompanied, as the road to Malam, 
where the governor at Mdshena at present resided, 
led close to the territory of Tymbi, the residence of 
Sheri's rival. 
Having returned to niy tent outside the town, I 
was visited by several of my former acquaintances, and 
among others by Mohammed Abeakiita, the remark- 
able freed slave from Yoruba, whom I have mentioned 
on a former occasion. But the most interesting visit 
was that of E' Sfaksi in the evening, who brought 
me a quantity of sweetmeats from his well supplied 
household, and spent several hours with me, giving 
me the first authentic account of the state of affairs 
in Bornu, as well as of the English expedition which 
had arrived there. As a reward for his friendly 
feeling and for his information, I presented him with 
a young heifer, which the governor of the town had 
sent me as a present. 
My camels having proved insufficient for the 
journey before them, I was looking out for fresh 
ones, but in the present reduced state of the place 
was not able to procure any, a circumstance which 
caused me afterwards a great deal of delay on my 
iourney. 
Monday, After losiug much time awaiting the 
Nov. 27tb. coming of the guide who had been pro- 
mised me, I started after my people whom I had 
allowed to go on with the camels. The road in conse- 
quence of the civil war which had raged between Sheri 
