184 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
had new difficulties to encounter. There was a second stream to 
cross, worse than the former : I stripped, and waded over, leading 
my horse. On the other side, under a tree, I found a sick Eellata 
unable to move, with a burning fever, a native of one of the neigh- 
bouring villages ; his friends, he said, had taken away his horse, 
and left him there, to the mercy of whoever might choose to assist 
him. 
About mid-day arrived at the court of Bello ; the Gadado saw 
me passing to my quarters, and sent to request I would halt, and 
to say I must go to the sultan, who would excuse every thing about 
my dress, as he was so anxious to see me. I accordingly dismounted, 
and accompanying the Gadado, we were instantly shown into the 
residence of Bello, which was formed of a number of huts, screened 
off by cloth fixed to poles, making quite a little village of itself. 
His reception of me was most kind and gratifying ; he asked after 
the health of the king of England, and if we were still at peace, 
and how I had found all my friends. He was surprised when 1 
said I had not seen them, and that I had remained only four months 
in England. He said, he had not received either of my letters, the 
one from Bornou, or that which had been sent by the way of Gha- 
damis from Tripoli. He asked me if 1 had not experienced a great 
many difficulties in getting through Yourriba; said he had heard 
of me when I was at Eyeo or Katunga, and that he had sent a 
messenger to that place, to assist me in getting through ; and had 
also sent another to Koolfu ; but neither of whom, as I told him, 
had I seen. 
During this interview, it began to rain, thunder, and lighten 
very heavily ; but as he and the old Gadado remained exposed to it, 
I was of course obliged to do so too. He had heard, he observed, 
that our camels had died on the road, but said he would send one 
of his men with a camel this evening, and who would take care 
that all my baggage should arrive safely at Soccatoo ; but that it 
would be better that every thing should remain with me, until my 
