240 
RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO AND MAGARIA. 
them, and they would not allow any one to carry arms or warlike 
stores to him. I told the Gadado that they were acting like robbers 
towards me, in defiance of all good faith ; that no people in the 
world would act the same, and they had far better have cut my 
head off than done such an act; but I supposed they would do that 
also when they had taken every thing from me. The Gadado flew 
off in a great passion, and the rest followed, carrying the present 
for the Sheik with them. Hadji Salah said he was afraid they 
would cut his head off, and he was a man with a large family ; he 
would from this time forward have no further concern with me or 
my affairs. A short while after this, Hadji Salah and his attendants 
came with a message from the sultan, to say the sultan had ordered 
them to tell me that he did not wish to do any thing or say any 
thing unpleasant to me ; all he wanted was to know if I had any 
arms or warlike stores for the Sheik — if I had, to give them up : 
I told him all I had for the Sheik they had already taken. Hadji 
Salah wanted me to give up all my own arms : I told him I would 
not give one. He said, I was once, he thought, a wise man, now 1 
acted like an unwise one, not to give up all to save my head : I told 
him I would not give them a charge of powder to save my head. 
They went off displeased again. 
My servants and all my visitors fell off at this time. My ser- 
vants said they were afraid to remain, even Allah Sirkie. This 
cowardice and ingratitude I did not expect from one I had found 
a slave, with only a leather skin about his middle, and whom I had 
clothed, fed, given him wages the same as my other servants from 
the day I bought him, and made him free. I told them they were 
at perfect liberty to go where they thought proper ; that I could 
soon get others who, after the manner in which I had behaved to 
them, could not behave worse : they however returned in the even- 
ing, and begged I would take them back, which I did; as lies, and 
