JOURNEY FROM KATUNGA TO BOUSSA. 
77 
take them or not, it would be of no use asking the sultan of Boussa ; 
‘‘ for if I get the sultan’s leave, and you get me on the road, you may 
charge what you please : if he does not allow me to go, signing the 
agreement will do no harm, it will only be the loss of the papers. 
You are mistaken if you think I have any thing to fear from the 
sultan of Youri; I am a servant of the king of England, and will 
receive assistance and protection whichever route I take.” He said 
he would send for his partner. Ilis partner came, Malein Mohamed, 
or the learned Mohamed ; a man that could not read or write, but 
could repeat a chapter or two of the Koran by heart. He was a 
palavering old rogue, who always repeated, to whatever the taya 
said, the words “ madealla, madealla ,” — “ very good, very good,” — 
without giving any answer to what I asked. I told them, it did 
not require much consideration about the matter : this must be 
done, yes or no, before I see the sultan of Boussa; for if they did 
not determine whether they would take my things or not, I would 
go direct to Youri. The taya then said, how many loads would I 
have ? I said, fifteen bullocks or asses ; that I would pay him at 
Kano, the day after my arrival, as I could have what money I wanted 
from Hadji Hat Saleh on giving him a receipt, as I had no money 
here ; (not wishing to let them know that I had a dollar here, as it 
might endanger my existence and that of all my property). “ Well,” 
says he, “ I know you can have what money you want from the 
merchants of Kano : I and my partner will consider of the affair 
to-night, and give you an answer to-morrow.” The taya returned 
with me to my encampment, and, to my surprise, told me that I 
must not let it be known that I was going to the Fellatas : “ Say 
you are going to Bornou.” “ So I am,” I said ; “ I have got a letter 
for the sheikh, which I will show you to-morrow.” When the taya 
left me, I began to think that what Yarro of Iviama had told me 
was true. When I asked him to go with the caravan, says he, “ Are 
you a merchant? if you are, go with the caravan: it you are the 
king of England’s messenger, you have nothing to do with them ; 
