THE SHEIKH — CONCLUDING NOTE. 
331 
According to my interpreter, Mohammed Ben 
Ahmed Bu Saad, there is no money in Bornou, 
and the Sheikh could never obtain a strong army. 
We certainly find considerable difficulty all along 
to get an extra camel or bullock, and those to be 
obtained are very bad ones. The people cultivate 
very little, and have no resources to fall back on. 
They have just a little grain for themselves. The 
Sheikh of this place is a respectable man, and has 
been very civil to me. He, however, requires from 
me a medicine to procure him a good reception 
wherever he goes. He says he is frequently called 
to Minyo and other l irge places, and he wants a 
medicine to procure him the smiles, good-will, and 
friendship of all the people whom he meets. Es- 
pecially he wishes always to have the favour of the 
Sultan. I had numbers of other patients all day ; 
my Epsom is fast going. Thermometer at sunset, 
82°; weather very troublesome to-day, blowing hot 
and cold with the same breath. # 
* Here ends Mr. Richardson's journal, with words which already 
hint the cause of the lamentable accident that speedily followed. 
Spring was advancing with its uncertain temperature in Central Africa. 
The thermometer varied nearly thirty degrees between the morning and 
afternoon. Doubtless, however, the unusual fatigue of horse-exercise 
during the days that succeeded the departure from Zinder may have 
contributed its share in breaking down Mr. Richardson's strength. 
Something of a desponding tone may be observed in the journal for 
many pages ; but we do not find that there was any cessation of 
industry. In addition to what is found in the regular diary, a good 
many notes were left written in pencil. Among the principal of them 
are the following : — 
