REBELLION OF THE SULTAN. 
201 
But this new prince also rebelled ; upon which 
the Sheikh came with a large force a year ago, and 
restored the former governor, placing, however, 
several persons here as a check on his authority. 
I have already mentioned the influence of the 
Shereef of Morocco. But no people in the world 
detest central government so much as the Africans, 
and these rebellions occur yearly and monthly. 
The facts which have been mentioned to me 
connected with the last rebellion of Zinder, and its 
reduction by the Sheikh of Bornou, are interesting, 
as illustrative of the present condition of these out- 
of-the-way countries. The re-conquest proved to 
be no easy matter, and required three months' siege, 
and sixty thousand men, commanded by the Sheikh's 
best officers and the sultans of the neighbouring 
provinces. When the revolted people had notice of 
the approach of this force, they threw up a wall of 
earth round the city in the brief space of three days 
only. Even Africans can be energetic when com- 
pelled by necessity. The siege lasted three months, 
and many people were killed on either side. 
Before hostilities commenced the Sheikh sent 
for the brother of the deposed prince, whom he had 
placed in power at Zinder ; but the answer was 
refusal. " If you want money," said the rebel 
chieftain, " here it is ; if you want slaves, here 
they are ; — but I will not come to Kuka." Ibrahim, 
the former and present sultan, had meanwhile gone 
to the capital, and covered himself with dust in the 
