220 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
which remained imfubdued, were his implacable foes, and would 
infallibly deftroy any perfon who came from Dar-Fur j that he 
thought however, if I waited another year, that route might 
pofhbly be more fecure ; and in cafe it fhould be fo, that he 
would ufe all his eiforts to obtain the Sultan's permiffion for my 
departure. Of the Selatea he faid, that I fhould only encounter 
certain death by attempting it, as between the jealoufy of thofe 
who accompanied me, and the adual hoftility of the country 
attacked, there would be no hope of efcaping. I hinted that 
the Sultan might give me a few attendants, whom I was very 
ready to pay, and an order to enable me to pafs unmolefted, as 
his phyfician in fearch of herbs. He replied that he would 
propofe fuch a meafure, but did not expedl it would receive the 
Sultan's approbation, whom he reprefented as very adverfe to 
ftrangers, and ftill fufpicious of me individually, in confequence 
of the reports that had been fpread on my arrival. To the third 
propofal, he anfwered, that he had no hope of m.y fucceeding ; 
and if I fhould attempt it, would by no means be anfwerable 
for what might happen, fmce the utmoft diftruft fubfifted be- 
tween the monarchs of Fur and Bergoo, and the moft implaca- 
ble enmity to Chriftians in the latter country. He concluded 
with ftrongly recommending it to me to feize the firft opportu- 
nity of returning to Egypt ; but alTured me, that if he could 
accomplifh either of the meafures I fo much wiihed, he would 
not fail to inform me, and afford me the necefTary aid. I left 
matters thus when I retired to Cobbe, dejedted, and little ex- 
pecting to realize even my leaft fanguine hopes. Not more 
than fix weeks after this converfation had taken place, I was 
fent for in hafle to attend the Melek, who was confined by an 
old 
