ly free. When he heard that their only
object was to see the world, he told them that they must go to the
Sultan Bello, who was a learned man and would, be glad to meet people
who had seen so much.

A lucky omen, as the natives supposed it, occurred. Among the presents
offered by the king was ajar of honey; this one of the servants upset
without breaking the pot. Had it been broken, the omen would have been
unfortunate; as it was, the governor was highly pleased, and ordered the
poor to be called in to lick up the honey. They rushed in, squabbling
among themselves. One old man, having a long beard, came off with a
double allowance, for he let it sweep up the honey and then sucked it
clean.

Dr Oudney soon after this became too weak to sit his horse, but still
he begged to be carried on. They therefore travelled forward to the
town of Murmur. Here they were compelled to stop, though the doctor the
next morning, after drinking a cup of coffee, with the assistance of his
companions dressed. It was soon evident that he would be unable to
proceed. He was carried back into his tent, where in a short time
Captain Clapperton, with unspeakable grief, witnessed his death without
a struggle or a groan. He was but thirty-two years of age. His friend
had a deep grave dug, and enclosed it with a wall of clay to keep off
the beasts of prey. He had also two sheep killed and distributed among
the poor.

Ill as Captain Clapperton himself was, and now left alone among strange
people, the loss to him was severe and afflicting. Still, his ardent
spirit triumphing over sorrow and trouble, he pursued his journey, and
on the 20th of January he entered Kano, the great emporium of the
kingdom of Haussa. He dressed himself in his naval uniform to make an
impression on the inhabitants of the city, which, from the description
of the Arabs, he expected to see of surprising grandeur. His
disappointment was therefore great, when he traversed the place. He
found the houses nearly a quarter of a mile from the walls, and in many
parts scattered into detached groups between large stagnant pools of
water. Not an individual turned his head round to gaze at him, all
being intent on their own business. The market-place was bordered to
the east and west by an extensive swamp, covered with weeds and water
and frequented by wild ducks, cranes, and vultures. The house which had
been provided for him was close to a morass, the pestilential
e