RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO. 
279 
attentive to me. The Arabs in the city visited me daily, and did 
all in their power to raise my spirits ; telling me not to be dis- 
heartened at the death of my father, and that no injury would 
happen to me. But 1 plainly saw these visits of condolence did not 
proceed from a charitable spirit; they came more for the purpose of 
obtaining presents than any thing else: but I did not give them 
any. The sultan also sent messengers to inquire after my health 
nearly as often. The weather was dreadfully warm; and I was 
obliged to have a tub of water close at my side, into which I fre- 
quently plunged my hands and arms, and occasionally sprinkled my 
head and body. This much refreshed me; indeed it was the only 
means by which I was enabled to obtain a little sleep. I had 
given up all hopes of life, when on the 26th I found my health im- 
prove in a wonderful manner ; the next day I was able to sit up on 
my mat. In the course of this day (27th) the Gadado, Malem 
Moodie, and Sidi Sheik, came with a commission from the sultan 
to search my boxes, as he had been informed they were filled with 
gold and silver ; but, to their great amazement, found I had not 
sufficient money to defray my expenses to the sea-coast. They, 
however, took an inventory of all my articles, and carried it to 
Bello. The gold watch intended for him, and the private watches 
of Captains Clapperton and Pearce, I had taken the precaution to 
conceal about my person. In a short time the Gadado and his 
companions returned with a message from the sultan, commanding 
me to deliver to them the following articles, viz. a rifle-gun, double- 
barrelled ditto, two bags of ball, a canister of powder, a bag of flints, 
a ream and a half of paper, and six gilt chains, for which he pro- 
mised to give me whatever I might ask. I consequently charged 
him 245,000 cowries, which I was to receive from Hadji Hat 
Sallah, at Kano ; and an order was given me to receive this sum, 
and what more I might require in my journey over the Great 
Desert. A letter was also sent by me to Hadji Hat Sallah. 
