his servants to turn him out.  “Be patient,” said Sidi Sheik, laying his hand upon that of Clapperton; “he visits the first people in Sockatoo, and they never allow him to go away without giving him a few goora nuts, or money to buy them.”  In compliance with this hint, Clapperton requested forty kowries to be given to the fellow, with strict orders never again to cross his threshold.  Sidi Sheik now related a professional anecdote of Clapperton’s uninvited visitor.  Being brother of the executioner of Yacoba, of which place he was a native, he applied to the governor for his brother’s situation, boasting of superior adroitness in the family vocation.  The governor coolly remarked, “We will try; go and fetch your brother’s head.”  He instantly went in quest of his brother, and finding him seated at the door of his house, without noise or warning, he struck off his head with a sword at one blow; then carrying the bleeding head to the governor, and claiming the reward of such transcendent atrocity, he was appointed to the vacant office.  The sultan being afterwards in want of an expert headsman, sent for him to Sockatoo, where, a short time after his arrival, he had to officiate at the execution of two thousand Tuaricks, who, in conjunction with the rebels at Goober, had attempted to plunder the country, but were all made prisoners.  It may be added, that the capital punishments inflicted in Soudan are beheading, impaling, and crucifixion; the first being reserved for Mahometans, and the other two practised on pagans.  Clapperton was told, that wretches on the cross generally linger three days before death puts an end to their sufferings.  Clapperton was for some time delayed in completing his arrangements for his departure from Sockatoo, on account of the fast of the Rhamadan, which the Fellatas keep with extreme rigour.  The chief people never leave their houses, except in the evening to prayer; and the women frequently pour cold water over their backs and necks.  Under the idea, that the greater the thirst they appear to endure, the better entitled they become to paradise; though Clapperton was inclined to believe that they made a parade of these privations, in a great measure, to obtain the reputation of extraordinary sanctity.

On the 2nd May, Clapperton sent for the steward of the gadado’s household, and all the female slaves, who had daily performed the duty of bringing him provisions from the time of his arrival.  These provisions were about a gallon of new milk every morning, in a large bowl, for himself, and two gallons of sour milk and siccory for his servants at noon, in return for which he always gave fifty kowries; at three o’clock three roast fowls, with doura or nutta sauce, for which he sent fifty kowries; again after sunset two bowls of bozeen were brought by two female slaves, to whom he gave one hundred kowries; and about two quarts of new milk afterwards, for which he gave fifty kowries more.  As an acknowledgment for their attention