26 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
able reports, respecting the objects of the expe- 
dition, had been made to the king, who never- 
theless expressed himself well disposed towards 
us, and said he should be extremely sorry if any 
thing unfortunate happened to us in his terri- 
tories. 
The arrival of those messengers, and the re- 
sult of Tuft's interview with the king, rendered 
it necessary, in Captain Campbell's opinion, 
that Tuft should return to Tumbo in the place of 
Lieutenant Stokoe. A dispute now arose be- 
tween Salihou, who was to have accompanied 
the latter, and Abou Bacary, as to which of them 
should be Tuft's companion. The latter insist- 
ed that Almamy directed him to attend all mes- 
sengers from Captain Campbell, and the for- 
mer, knowing that whoever went must receive 
some present, urged his claim with much obsti- 
nacy. It was at length determined that both 
should go, in consequence of the prince not 
wishing to entrust Abou Bacary with his com- 
mands. Although from Salihou's conduct we 
could not expect him to report very favourably 
of us, yet he had been so troublesome, and his 
wife, a sister of Almamy's, so beggarly and im- 
portunate, that we were glad to get rid of them. 
We were now in the district of Laby, the chief 
of which (who, as before stated, has much in- 
fluence in the country) sent one of his head men. 
