t 
402 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXXXIV. 
went into the town in the course of the afternoon and 
paid my respects to him. He desired me to return 
with all my effects to my old quarters ; but I told him 
that was impossible, as my state of health rendered it 
essential for me to return home without further delay? 
whereas by taking up my quarters once more inside 
the town, according to their own slow mode of pro- 
ceeding, I was sure not to get away before a couple of 
months had elapsed ; but I said that I would gladly 
wait outside some days longer, and that if he wished I 
would come into the town every day in order to ascer- 
tain if there was anything he wished to say to me. To 
this the Sheikh seemed to agree at the time, and thus I 
took leave of him in the most quiet and satisfactory 
manner, and it appeared as if every thing was ar- 
ranged and that he would in no way interfere with my 
departure. I therefore bought two more camels the 
following day, out of a large number which had been 
brought into the town by the Tebu, from the Bahhr 
el Ghazal; and on the 25th, through the mediation of 
a respectable Tebu merchant, of the name of Hdj el 
Biggela, made an agreement with a guide, paying 
him half of his salary in advance. The same evening 
the Sheikh sent me some more provisions. 
Thus, all seemed ready for my departure, although 
I had not many people at my disposal ; but when it 
had only been delayed one day by accident, there 
appeared suddenly, in the afternoon of the 28th, 'All 
Zmtelma, that same servant of Diggelma who had 
stolen part of the merchandise which he was bringing 
