COUSIN OF THE SHEIKH EPSOM SALTS. 
247 
Bornou. He was surrounded with all the objects 
of Bornou luxury, — carpets, guns, pistols, swords, 
umbrellas, &c. &c. He was busy looking over a 
book containing an explanation of dreams, with a 
vastly-knowing malem. They both made preten- 
sions to great learning. In other respects, the cou- 
sin of the Sheikh was very affable. He said, Bornou 
is the only good country hereabouts. All the rest 
are full of fever or bandits. " There were two 
English," he observed, " came to us (in Bornou), 
and were very well until they went to Soudan, 
where they died.'' These persons were Oudney and 
Clapperton. I told him I must return by way of 
Wadai, which he disapproved of. I added, that 
Abbas Pasha would write to Darfour and Wadai", 
to give me protection. He then said, " Oh, if the 
Sheikh writes to Wadai', you can go in safety." 
This cousin of the Sheikh is a great merchant, 
and comes backwards and forwards to Zinder from 
Kuka. 
28^. — The nights are still rather cool, but the 
days not so. The weather continues heavy, with a 
south-east wind. I went to the cousin of the Sheikh 
to administer to him a close of Epsom salts. I have 
often been surprised to see how greedily these 
people drink off this nauseous medicine, and smack 
their lips as if it was something excessively deli- 
cious. 
Afterwards I had a visit from a great sister of 
the Sarkee, a woman who is a Sheikha (female 
