JOURNEY FROM BOUSSA TO KANO. 
133 
together ; that the white men jumped overboard ; that the boat 
was made of two canoes joined fast together, with an awning or 
roof behind ; that he, the sultan, had a gun, double-barrelled, and 
a sword, and two books that had belonged to those in the boat ; 
that he would give me the books whenever I went to Youri my- 
self for them, not until then. 
Monday, 15th. — I am still very weak ; Richard worse. I had 
a letter from the learned Abdurahman, of Kora, a noted chief of 
banditti, and who once, with his followers, overran Nyffe, and held 
possession of the capital six months. He now keeps the town of 
Kora, a day’s journey to the north-east, and is much feared by 
Mohamedan and Kafir. He is a native of Nyffe. He is particularly 
anxious that I should visit him, as he wants my acquaintance, and 
begs 1 will give him the Psalms of David in Arabic, which he hears 
I have got. His letter was written on part of the picture of the 
frontispiece of an European book, apparently Spanish or Por- 
tuguese. He says he has something to communicate to me, whicli 
cannot be done but by a personal interview ; but unless he come to 
Koolfu I told his messenger, I could not see him. 
Tuesday, 23d. — Cool and cloudy. A large caravan arrived from 
Y ourriba. They had come through Borgoo, where they sold what 
natron they had remaining after they left Yourriba. They were in 
Katunga when I was there ; but were forbidden to hold any commu- 
nication with us, on pain of having their throats cut. They told me 
that my friend the fat eunuch had endeavoured to hire a man to 
assassinate me, but that they were all afraid. There are strong re- 
ports of a war between the Sheik El Kanami and the F ellatas. They 
say the sheik has taken the city of Hadija, and that the governor of 
Kano is gone out to meet him, as he is advancing upon Kano. 
Whether it is a report to please the Nyffe people, who cannot bear 
the Fellatas, or not, I do not know. We had a number of such re- 
ports when in Bornou last journey. In the evening a messenger 
