284 
FROM SOCCATOO TO DUNRORA. 
bad a state as on the former occasion ; my legs were swollen pro- 
digiously, and I felt the most acute pains in every part of my body. 
At length I perceived Pascoe, whom I had sent for water three or 
four hours previously, comfortably seated under a tree, and seem- 
ing to be enjoying himself much with Mudey, — the camels feeding 
at a short distance. I had half an inclination to shoot the heart- 
less old scoundrel, knowing as he did how keen my sufferings must 
have been. Reflecting, however, that the safety of my papers, and 
even my own life, was placed in some measure in his hands, I re- 
strained myself, and merely asked why he did not return with the 
water, on which he answered, very composedly, “ I was tired.” 
The young F ellata who had so generously saved my life came to 
me on the 7 th, and informed me that the whole of the slaves of the 
king of Jacoba being missing, a party of horsemen had been sent in 
quest of them, and had just returned with the dreadful account of 
having seen thirty-five of their dead bodies exposed on the road ; 
the remaining fifteen could not be found, but were strongly sus- 
pected of having met a similar fate. These unfortunate creatures 
had to carry heavy burdens on their heads the day before ; and 
being unable to keep up with the rapid pace of the camels, were 
necessarily obliged to be left behind, and thus miserably perished 
of thirst. I congratulated myself on my own good fortune in 
having so narrowly escaped so horrid a death ; and thanked the 
Almighty for having so providentially rescued me. On leaving 
me, I gave the Fellata a pair of scissors, and twenty flints for his 
gun, which pleased him highly. On our road to Kano, the king of 
Jacoba became very sociable with me, and was my constant com- 
panion. He pressed me very much to visit his country, where he 
would do all in his power to make my stay agreeable. He told me 
that his neighbours, the Yamyam people, who had assisted him in 
his war against the sheik of Bornou, were surrounded, with some 
of his own people, on a plain near Jacoba, by the sheik’s soldiers* 
