“In the name of God, and praise be to God, &c. &c.  To Abdallah Clapperton, salutation and esteem.  You are now our guest, and a guest is always welcomed by us; you are the messenger of a king, and a king’s messenger is always honoured by us.  You come to us under our honour as an ambassador, and an ambassador is always protected by us.  There is no harm in the king’s ministers sending you to the sheik Kanemi, of Bornou, nor do we see any harm in your coming, when thus sent.  But when you formerly came to us from Bornou, peace was then between us and the sheik; whereas there is now war between him and ourselves; we cannot perceive any blame in our preventing warlike stores being sent to him.  We continue to maintain our faith with you, and are ready to attend to all your wishes, because we consider you as a trusty friend, and one who enjoys a high degree of esteem with us.  Do not encroach upon us, we will not encroach upon you; we have rights to maintain, and you have also rights to be respected.  And Salam be to you.”

(Signed as usual.)

It is difficult to conceive, why so reasonable and friendly a letter should have failed to subdue the irritation of the traveller; this cannot be accounted for only by his ill health, or by supposing that he was not exactly conversant with its contents.  It appears, however, that the conduct of Bello had such an effect upon the spirits of Clapperton, that Lander reports, he never saw him smile afterwards.  The strong constitution of Clapperton, had till this period enabled him to resist all the baneful influence of an African climate.  He had recovered, though perhaps not completely, from the effects of the rash exposure which had proved fatal to his two companions, but subsequently when overcome with heat and fatigue he had lain down on a damp spot in the open air, he was soon after seized with dysentery, which continued to assume more alarming symptoms.  Unable to rise from his bed, and deserted by all his African friends, who saw him no longer a favourite at court, he was watched with tender care by his faithful servant Lander, who devoted his whole time to attendance on his sick master.  At length he called him to his bed-side, and said, “Richard, I shall shortly be no more; I feel myself dying.”  Almost choked with grief, Lander replied, “God forbid, my dear master—­you will live many years yet.”  Clapperton replied, “don’t be so much affected, my dear boy, I entreat you, it is the will of the Almighty, it cannot be helped.  I should have wished to live to have been of further use to my country—­and more, I should like to have died in my native land—­but it is my duty to submit.”  He then gave particular directions as to the disposal of his papers, and of all that remained of his property, to which the strictest attention was promised.  “He then,” says Lander, “took my hand within his, and looking me full in the face, while a tear stood glistening in his eye, said in a low but deeply affecting tone,