o me. It
comes direct from Tripoli. There are three letters for me!

This evening my new interpreter came with a long trumped-up story, as to
what the Sultan had said respecting my quarrel with Yusuf. His highness
was represented to have expressed a strong desire that we might be
reconciled before we arrived at Kuka. I cannot tell whether this be true
or false. Probably they have attempted to get the Sultan to speak to me
about Yusuf. This is always the case. These people do you as much injury
as they please on the road, and when they are near a place which makes
them afraid, they get a number of people to come and persuade you to say
that they are very good fellows. It is quite clear that Yusuf has stolen
several things on the road. The last thing missed is a large quantity of
cloves. It is difficult to know how to act on these occasions.

_17th._--I took Epsom, and feel better.

The architectural ornaments of the palace of Gurai resemble those of the
houses of Ghat. The walls are covered with little recesses, of various
shapes; the moulding consists of a series of lozenges; the pillars by
which the ceiling is supported are of immense thickness. In these large
halls, on a level with the ground, there are always raised seats of
earth, on which are spread carpets, and lion and leopard skins.

By the way, this country seems clear of animals. They are all either
hunted down, or driven into thicker shades and forests.

All these provinces have their histories preserved traditionally. The
father of the present Sultan of Gurai, named Ibrahim, was a most
determined fellow. He slew no less than seven sultans appointed to take
his place. The Sheikh, in the first instance, sent a large army to
dispossess him. Before superior forces he retired to a mountain, where
he was unattackable. The new Sultan was installed, and the troops of
Bornou returned to Kuka. As soon as they were gone, Ibrahim descended
the mountains with his slaves, and fell upon the new prince, butchering
him and his people. Then he wrote to Kuka: "I am under God and you." The
Sheikh, enraged at this conduct, sent another force against him, as
before. Ibrahim once more retired to his stronghold, and after the
Bornou forces had returned to Kuka, again descended from his mountain,
and butchered the new prince as before. And this he repeated seven
times, so that at last the Sheikh, seeing the impossibility of
continuing the war with such a vassal, allowed him to h