Chap. LXXXIV. RE-ENTER THE TOWN. 
403 
from Zinder to Kiikawa, at the head of four horsemen 
armed with muskets, bringing me an order from the 
Sheikh to return to the town. Feeling convinced, 
from the character of the messenger, that if I did not 
obey the order I should expose myself to all sorts of 
insults from this contemptible villain, if I did not 
rid myself of him in a violent and unlawful manner, 
I thought it prudent, heartrending though it was, to 
resign myself in obedience to the tyrannical will of 
these people. It happened rather fortunately for me 
that Sidi A'hmed, the chief of Sidi el Bakay's messen- 
gers, was staying with me at the time in my encamp- 
ment. Having therefore sent my people in advance to 
my old quarters, I went to see the Sheikh. I then 
protested against such a proceeding ; but he himself 
did not speak, a younger brother of his, of the 
name of Abba 'Othman, taking the lead in the conver- 
sation, and stating that the Sheikh could not allow me 
to depart in this manner ; and from all that I could 
learn, I concluded that it was especially this man who 
had persuaded his elder brother that it was not prudent 
to allow me to go unsatisfied as I was, and without 
having settled my claims, the dangers of the road 
also being very great. But the principal reason was, 
that a Tebu messenger had arrived with letters from 
the north, although I did not hear what the letters 
addressed to the Sheikh himself contained ; but I 
afterwards learned that this man had brought the 
news of the approach of a caravan, and it was but 
natural that the Sheikh should wish to await its ar- 
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