304 
FROM DUNRORA TO ZEGZEG. 
stopped on our way to Kano. In the evening plenty of provisions 
were sent by the king. 
23d. — Visited the king this morning, taking with me four yards 
of blue, and the same quantity of scarlet damask ; four yards of 
blue and scarlet silk, a gilt chain, six prints, among which is one of 
his majesty, and another of the duke of York, two pair of scissors, 
a quire of paper, a scarlet cap, six yards of white muslin, and a 
blank drawing book. This present pleased him highly; and not 
long after my return to my lodgings, he sent me two fine bullocks. 
The chief subsequently told me that the reason for his ordering 
me to be brought back to Zegzeg was on account of the war be- 
tween Sultan Bello and the king of Funda, who would murder me 
as soon as he had me in his power, for having taken presents to his 
powerful enemy : it was therefore doing me a great act of favour. 
Abbel Creme, my host, thought it necessary for me to give some- 
thing to the king’s eldest son : I accordingly presented him, shortly 
afterwards, with two yards of blue and scarlet damask, an unwritten 
journal-book, half a canister of powder, a quire of paper, and a 
gilt chain. The prince is a remarkably fine and handsome young 
man, about twenty-two years of age, and was particularly kind to 
me. As an especial mark of favour, he took me into his inner 
apartments to see his wives, fifty in number, who, on my entrance, 
were all sitting in the shade outside their huts, and industriously 
occupied in preparing cotton, making thread, and weaving it into 
cloth. The prince said, “ I have brought the Christian to see 
you.” They no sooner looked up than they all instantly dropped 
their work, and ran, or rather flew, into their coozies, and I saw no 
more of them. Four of these ladies reside together in one coozie. 
In the course of the day the prince offered me a young female 
slave, named Aboudali, for a wife ! I accepted of her with grati- 
tude, as I knew she would be serviceable to me on my journey, 
