an! God bless him!" This is the first occasion on which I have
witnessed this degrading custom, this abject worship of the
representative of power. The scene was perfectly African and negro.

I was squatted amidst a number of courtiers, one of whom had a sort of
double skull, another smaller skull raised above the larger one,--a
protuberance which came from an accident in infancy. This double-skulled
man was the chief of the domestics.

The Sultan was in a merry humour, and smilingly asked after my health.
We then read our letters of recommendation, which pleased him. He
observed that the route _via_ Aheer was good. "How good," asked Yusuf,
"when we are arrived here naked, and stripped of everything?" At which
his highness burst out, laughing, with all the people. There was now
observed a little bustle behind, and his highness called out "Silence!"
like a sheriff in a court of law. I begged the interpreter to tell the
Sultan that our present was small, for we had been stripped by the
Tuaricks. This he whispered in his ear; after which I slipped a packet
of powder and shot into the hands of one of the principal courtiers,
telling him it was for the Sultan, and he carried it off. I did not
place it with the other presents, because the servant of Haj Bashaw,
sent from Kuka, forbad my giving his highness any powder and shot,
alleging, that this Sultan was always disaffected, and the Sheikh would
disapprove of my giving him munitions of war. But I was determined to
give fifty bullets and two dozen charges of powder, believing that he
could do the Sheikh little harm, whilst it would make him my personal
friend. No person knew what I gave the Governor.

The powder and shot being delivered, I took leave of his highness,
raising my cap and shaking hands with him. At this doffing off the cap
all the people were highly gratified, thinking great respect was thereby
shown to their prince.

Ibrahim is a negro, a native of Zinder, a man of fifty years of age,
with a countenance sparkling with good humour, and I believe I may add,
intelligence. He has been Sultan here some thirty years, so that he must
be a man of character. This day he received a renewal of his commission
from Kuka, a ceremony that takes place every year; and so he was in a
happy humour. There was also a sort of feast at the palace, and his
highness rode out with a detachment of cavalry. The persons who brought
our camels from Kuka also brought the renewed commissi