WHITE SKINS — GOSSIP. 77 
West (Morocco) ; the next was Sultan of Bornoo ; 
and the third and youngest was Sultan of Aghadez 
in remote times. But how remote, it is impossible 
for En-Noor to tell, and, of course, for me to relate. 
I was much amazed by the predilection of En-Noor 
(who is not absolutely a white man) for black people. 
He praised Overweg, because he was getting brown 
and black. As for me, his highness was almost 
inclined to express his disgust for the whiteness of 
my skin. Unfortunately, I happen to be what the 
people call in England " very fair/' except in those 
parts of my skin which come in direct contact with 
the sun. I spent the day in compiling a Haussa 
vocabular}', and hope to make considerable progress 
by the time we arrive in Damerghou. 
3c?. — This was my birthday, but of course it 
was unkept, and, indeed, almost unthought of until 
it was past. 
En-Noor again visited us, and drank with us 
coffee. His highness is getting quite attached to 
my tent, and swears that when I return to my 
country I must become a great man, and be made, 
like himself, a governor or sultan of some country. 
Shall I say, Inshallah ? I asked Yusuf to explain 
why the Sultan thought so, and I could only learn 
that it was the opinion which his highness had 
formed from my general conduct. 
Being in a very happy humour to-day, the Sul- 
tan related many things of his youth ; his exploits, 
of course, which all men relate, and which I shall 
