248 
CARAVAN — ENGLISH DRESS. 
Sheikh), and receives the revenues of fifty villages 
for her own private use. She was quite well, but 
begged hard for medicine. At last I gave her some 
tea, which she drank off, after laughing a good 
deal. 
A small caravan has arrived from Ghadamez in 
three months, but brought no news, except that 
Aaron Silva is living, and not dead, as reported. 
These merchants make continual inquiries re- 
specting the state of the country (i. e. of Soudan), 
and are answered, " Afia, afia." However, it is 
these same slave-dealing merchants who occasion 
the greater part of the wars and troubles in 
these countries, by their perpetual demand for 
slaves. 
I am told that many cantars of indigo can be 
purchased in Soudan (in Kanou), at a price which 
would bring a great profit in Tripoli ; but the mer- 
chants refuse to engage in this commerce. I think 
I shall make a trial of it. 
The cousin of the Sheikh recommended me to 
dress in my English clothes on my arrival in 
Kuka. By doing this, he observed, "you will 
please the people, and get many presents." It was 
ever my intention to dress in European clothes in 
Bornou. 
The common mode in which a poor person 
salutes a great man, is by kneeling down and throw- 
ing dust upon the bare head. The degree of 
humility and respect is expressed by the quantity of 
