310 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. VIII. 
not giving his Bouzaferr, was now become quite a standing joke 
amongst the Kaffle. He spoke very bad Arabic, which, with his 
being very lame, and always requiring, when he walked, to be sup- 
ported by two Negresses, made him the constant subject of ridicule. 
He had almost famished his slaves and camel-men, allowing them 
to drink once a day only, though he had a plentiful stock of water. 
Having a pipe, he amused himself with it day and night ; and as 
smoking was to him the height of enjoyment, and he always rode a 
camel, he affected to wonder that the poor slaves should be fatigued 
or in want of refreshment. Every other owner had brought ready 
ground corn with him for the food of the Negroes ; but Baba 
obliged his poor tired females to pound their corn every evening 
after their fatiguing march, in wooden mortars, which he had brought 
for the purpose. Though the whole Kaffle had been straitened for 
water, he actually brought two whole skins full to the well, and the 
Aral)s told me that his slaves lay down and drank of it like camels. 
This man had been, about six years before, robbed of all his goods 
by the Tuarick, of the tribe of Haggar, when on the confines of the 
kingdom of Kashna, on his way from Tunis ; but his address, or 
roguery, more than supplied his loss. He arrived almost naked at 
Sakkatoo, the residence of Bello (son of the celebrated Hatman 
Danfodio), the Sultan of the Fellata, introducing himself as a Shreef, 
or descendant of the Prophet, and teUing a piteous story of his losses, 
which he since owns to have been greatly exaggerated. Bello, be- 
heving him to be a Shreef, took compassion on him, and made him 
a kingly present of a hundred Negresses, some of whom, then with 
him, were reaUy beautiful ; he also supported him for some time. 
The old man had traded with the Negresses, and had made a great 
deal of money, with which he was now returning. 
We were also accompanied from Zeghen by an old Arab, who 
appeared to have nothing to do with loading or unloading the 
