RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO AND MAGARIA. 
199 
with the Gadado ; and when we arrived at his house, and were 
seated, I again expressed my anxious desire that he would give me 
a copy of the letter which had been sent from the Sheik of Bornou, 
as it was of some importance to me to be guided as to my choice 
of the road I was to take on mv return home. The Gadado said 
tf 
he was not aware of any letter having been sent ; that it was very 
wrong in Sidi Sheik to have told me such a story ; said he must 
have made a mistake; but, to relieve me from any uneasiness on that 
score, he would inquire into the truth, and let me know to-morrow. 
Monday, 30th. — I had been so ill all night with the pain in my 
side that I had no rest whatever. At noon the Gadado came to 
say that he would go with me to the sultan. Though very ill, 
I went ; and we were immediately shown into the apartment of 
the sultan, who was reading : but when we entered, he laid down 
his book, and began of his own accord about the letter. He ob- 
served, that a letter had certainly come to him, but not with the 
Sheik's signature ; that it appeared, however, the letter had been 
written, with the Sheik’s sanction, by that holy man Hadgi Molia- 
med Bootabli ; and that he was desired to say I was a spy, and 
that he would not allow me to go beyond Soccatoo ; hinting, at 
the same time, that it would be better I should die, as the English 
had taken possession of all India by first going there by ones and 
twos, until we got strong enough to seize upon the whole country. 
And thus ended our interview. 
Tuesday, 31st. — I was much better this morning, and the swell- 
ing and pain in my side much less, a dose of calomel I took having 
done its duty ; but I thought it advisable not to stir out all day. 
The sultan and Gadado sent to me to know how I was. 
Wednesday, Nov. 1st. — Clear. Magaria is now increasing to a 
tow n of considerable size. Before, it was without shape or form ; 
now, all the people from the villages, for a considerable distance 
around, have been ordered to live here ; and the houses being pro- 
