TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
113 
companied by two of his majesty's ministers 
and three other grandees of the country, came 
to announce his father's arrival at a small town 
of the same name as this, distant about five 
miles east. They made some objections to call 
on me first, and I would have waved all cere- 
mony in favour of the expediting in the least our 
business ; but Lamina said it was their place to 
call on me : they were the bearers of a message 
from Almainy, and to deliver it they must come 
to me, and not I to them. This they did, and 
entered on the business with all the indifference 
and hauteur imaginable. Sanda himself would 
not uncover his mouth or nose, which he had 
closely wrapped up in a part of his turban which 
hung down, for fear he might inhale the air 
breathed by an infidel. Many words, expressed 
in a strangely slow and authoritative manner, 
went to say that Almamy had arrived, and 
would see me whenever I wished to call upon 
him, or w^ould come himself to see me if I pre- 
ferred it. The former I adopted, as I was aware 
that his presence here would draw around us a set 
of beggars, whose importunities would be insup- 
portable, and therefore decided on going, with- 
out delay, to see him. Messrs. Dochard and 
Partarrieau accompanied me. Lamina, Masiri 
Cabba, and one of my own men to act as inter- 
preter, composed the whole of our attendants. 
