entreated to be relieved from this incessant persecution, but Gana assured him that the fighi was a great and holy man, to whom he ought to listen.  He then held out not only paradise, but honours, slaves, and wives of the first families, as gifts to be lavished on him by the sheik, if he would renounce his unbelief.  Major Denham asked the commander what would be thought of himself, if he should go to England and turn Christian.  “God forbid,” exclaimed he, “but how can you compare our faiths? mine would lead you to paradise, while yours would bring me to hell.  Not a word more.”  Nothing appears to have annoyed the stranger more than to be told, that he was of the same faith with the Kerdies or savages, little distinction being made between any who denied the Koran.  After a long discussion of this question, he thought the validity of his reasoning would be admitted, when he could point to a party of those wretches devouring a dead horse, and appealed to Boo Khaloom if he had ever seen the English do the same; but to this, which after all was not a very deep theological argument, the Arab replied, “I know they eat the flesh of swine, and God knows, that is worse.”  “Grant me patience,” exclaimed the major to himself, “this is almost too much to bear and to remain silent.”

The unfortunate Kerdies, from the moment they saw Arab tents in the valley of Mandara, knew the dreadful calamity which awaited them.  To avert it and to propitiate the sultan, numerous parlies came down with presents of honey, asses, and slaves.  Finally appeared the Musgow, a more distant and savage race, mounted on small fiery steeds, covered only with the skin of a goat or leopard, and with necklaces made of the teeth of their enemies.  They threw themselves at the feet of the sultan, casting sand on their heads, and uttering the most piteous cries.  The monarch apparently moved by these gifts and entreaties, began to intimate to Boo Khaloom his hopes, that these savages might by gentle means be reclaimed, and led to the true faith.  These hopes were held by the latter in the utmost derision, and he privately assured Major Denham, that nothing would more annoy the devout Mussulmans, than to see them fulfilled, whereby he must have forfeited all right to drive these unhappy creatures in crowds, to the markets of Soudan and Bornou.  In fact, both the sultan and the sheik had a much deeper aim.  Every effort was used to induce Boo Khaloom to engage in the attack of some strong Fellata posts, by which the country was hemmed in, and as the two monarchs viewed the Arabs with extreme jealousy, it was strongly suspected that their defeat would not have been regarded as a public calamity.  The royal councils were secret and profound, and it was not known what influences worked upon Boo Khaloom.  On this occasion, however, he was mastered by his evil genius, and consented to the proposed attack, but as he came out and ordered his troops to prepare for marching, his countenance bore such marks of trouble, that Major Denham asked, if all went well, to which he Hurriedly answered, “Please God.”  The Arabs, however, who at all events expected plunder, proceeded with alacrity.