JOURNEY FROM KATUNGA TO BOUSSA. 
99 
kindly, and said the sultan of Youri had kept seven boats waiting 
for me for these last seven days to take me up the river to Youri. 
I said I was much obliged to the sultan of Youri, but that I did not 
intend going that way, as the war with the Fellatas had shut up 
the communication between Bornou and Youri ; that with his per- 
mission I would go by the way of Koolfu and Nyffe, where there 
was no war. He said I was right, and that it was good for me 
that I had come to see him ; that I should take what path I chose. 
We then parted, he ordering his head man to take me to a 
house. He would have come with me himself, but the midaki 
pulled him back ; she had acted, during the time I was there, as 
prompter. The sultan is a fine looking young man, about twenty- 
five or twenty-six years of age, five feet ten inches high, with a 
high forehead, large eyes, Boman nose, decent lips, good teeth, 
short chin covered with about an inch and a half of beard, more of 
a spare than robust make. He was dressed in a white tobe, striped 
Moorish kaftan, with a red Moorish cap on his head. The mi- 
daki appears somewhat older, below the middle size, with nothing 
remarkable about her but her voice , and a winning womanish way, 
sitting on his left side, a little behind him, with her arm half around 
his neck. His house does not differ from those of other people, 
except the huts being a little larger, and surmounted by ostrich 
eggs. I found my house a very good one, with three rooms or 
huts, and a shade for the heat of the day ; and the sultan and 
midaki sent me a sheep, yams, fish, milk, honey, and eggs. 
Friday, 31st. — This morning I waited on the sultan with my 
present, which consisted of eight yards of red cloth, eight yards of 
blue, eight yards of silk, a blue silk umbrella, an African sword, 
three pair of white cotton stockings, three pair of gloves, two 
phosphorus boxes, three clasp-knives, and three pair of scissars, 
a mock-gold chain, beads, and coral ; for the midaki, pictures of the 
king, and royal family, & c. I displayed my present to the best ad- 
