52 
HOSPITALITY OF S I D I - A BDA L L AH I. 
pared to accompany him to the great desert. This infor- 
mation vexed me^ for I was not disposed to quit Timbuctoo 
so soon. I did not, however, lose all hope of prolonging my 
stay in that city. 
In the evening I mentioned Mbark's proposition to 
my host, adding that I was greatly fatigued by the long 
journey I had performed on foot, and that I wished to rest 
at Timbuctoo for about a fortnight, after which I would 
avail myself of the first caravan that might depart. I had 
scarcely expressed this wish, when he interrupted me, saying 
in the kindest manner: You may remain here longer 
than a fortnight, if you please. You will gratify me by 
so doing ; you shall want for nothing.'' I gratefully thanked 
him for his generous hospitality. Shortly after I had another 
instance of his kindness, for which 1 was very grateful. He 
had at first given me a chamber to myself ; but the Man- 
dingo negro by whom I had been so ill treated on board the 
canoe, on his arrival in Timbuctoo, quartered himself and 
his female slave in my apartment. I bore this patiently 
for some days; but the presence of the intruders prevented 
me from taking my notes which I could only do in secret. 
I mentioned to Sidi-Abdallahi that I should prefer being 
alone; and, after reprimanding the negro, he lodged me in 
another house belonging to him, which was near the market- 
place and opposite to that which had been occupied by 
Major Laing, the street only intervening between them. 
Often, when seated before my door, I thought of the fate 
of that unfortunate traveller, who, after surmounting num- 
berless dangers and privations, was cruelly assassinated 
when on the eve of returning to his country. In the course 
of these reflections I could not repress a feeling of appre- 
hension, lest, should I be discovered, I might be doomed 
to a fate more horrible than death — to slavery! But I de- 
termined to act with caution, and not to afford any ground 
for suspicion. 
