122 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
least so the fancy for obesity : no one was considered 
elegant unless lie had attained to a bulk generally looked 
upon as very inconvenient. 
Some exquisites had stomachs so distended and 
prominent that they seemed literally to hang over the 
pommel of the saddle; and in addition to this, fashion 
prescribed a turban of such length and weight that its 
wearer had to carry his head on one side. 
These uncouth peculiarities rivalled those of the 
Turks of a masked ball, and the travellers had often 
hard work to preserve their gravity. To compensate, 
however, for the grotesque solemnity of the various 
receptions, a new held for observation was open, and 
much valuable information might now be acquired. 
Denham wished to proceed to the south at once, but 
the sheikh was unwilling to risk the lives of the travellers 
entrusted to him by the Bey of Tripoli. On their entry 
into Bornou, the responsibility of Boo-Khaloum for their 
safety was transferred to him. 
So earnest, however, were the entreaties of Denham, 
that El Khanemy at last sanctioned his accompanying 
Boo-Khaloum in a 44 ghrazzie,” or plundering expedition, 
against the Kaffirs or infidels. 
o 
The sheikh’s army and the Arab troops passed in 
succession Yeddie, a large walled city twenty miles 
from Angoumou, Badagry, and several other towns 
built on an alluvial soil which has a dark clay-like 
appearance. 
They entered Mandara at the frontier town of Delow, 
beyond which the sultan of the province, with five 
hundred horsemen, met his guests. 
Denham describes Mahommed Becker as a man of 
short stature, about fifty years old, wearing a beard 
painted of a most delicate azure blue. The presentations 
over, the sultan at once turned to Denham, and asked 
who he was, whence he came, what he wanted, and 
lastly, if he were a Mahommedan. On Boo-Khaloum’s 
hesitating to reply, the sultan turned away his head, 
with the words, 44 So the pacha numbers infidels amongst 
his friends ! ” 
