262 
FROM KANO TO SOCCATOO. 
if I could, before I died. F or this purpose ordered my people to 
make a couch on the back of the camel ; after which they gently 
lifted me into it, and I almost immediately ordered them to pro- 
ceed. The chief of Rayoo, who was one of Bello’s principal fighting 
men, behaved particularly kind to me, and, I really believe, sincerely 
sympathized in my distress. He expressed much sorrow on parting, 
and hinted it would be dangerous to proceed, but did not oppose my 
determination. The path, the greater part of the way, being very 
narrow, and thickly lined on each side with a species of thorn, I was 
annoyed greatly, by reason of the thorns frequently tearing the 
covering from my bed, and exposing me to the intense heat of a 
burning sun. The sultan of Kano’s messenger, however, seeing me 
in this state, rode before the camel, and dexterously lopped off the 
overhanging branches with his cutlass : this proved of the utmost 
advantage. The violent shaking of the camel caused me to be faint 
several times on the road ; on which occasions my party uniformly 
halted until I revived. In this manner we journeyed till seven in the 
evening, when we entered a walled town called Koolefee. The 
chief, a very fine old man, never having seen a white man before, 
was in raptures when he learned of my being in the town ; and 
running to the camel, took me from its back, and carried me in his 
arms into an apartment which had been hastily prepared for my 
reception. Placing me on a bed, he took a gora nut from his pocket, 
and holding it betwixt his finger and thumb, wished me to chew 
one end of it, that he might have the pleasure of eating with a 
Christian. I did it after some difficulty, when he immediately ate 
the remainder witli much apparent satisfaction. His great men, 
who surrounded me, reproved him sharply for doing this. He 
quickly answered them, in a pleasant but firm tone, that he be- 
lieved the “ little Christian” was as good a man as himself or any 
of them ; which effectually silenced their remarks. He shortly 
afterwards went out, and returned with a bowl, containing six 
