eamt I saw "two persons fall to the ground
upon (from?) the boughs of a tree." He searched his book and produced a
passage, the pith of which was, that anything which I undertake will not
be accomplished. Very agreeable information! I thought we had had bad
news enough. The passage made to apply prophetically to me ran literally
as follows:--

"And whosoever sees (in dreams) a tree fall, or any thing fall from
it,--then will not accomplish itself the thing which is between the man
who thus dreams."[18]

[18] The unhappy event which soon after this interview occurred,
no doubt confirmed the belief of the natives in the powers
of this great fighi.--ED.

I hired to-day Mohammed Ben Amud Bou Saad, at a salary of ten reals of
Fezzan a month.

I have heard another version of the plan and cause of the present razzia
of the Sultan of Zinder. "Our own correspondents" cannot be more
versatile in finding out rumours than the gossips of Zinder. It is now
said that the Sultan of Korgum wrote to the Sarkee of Zinder, and asked
him if he should make a razzia on or with Maradee.

The Sarkee said, "Go." But as soon as the news came that the sultan was
gone, this prince, in whom that other put his trust, immediately set out
to make a razzia on the country deserted by its sultan.

"_Compos!_" cried my Moorish informant; and certainly it was a clever
negro trick. It is difficult to know whom to pity or condemn in this
iniquitous affair. We may be certain, however, that the poor women and
children, the principal sufferers by the razzias, are guiltless in these
transactions; and we may, without fear, bestow our sympathies upon them.
At the same time it is allowable to admire the profound secrecy with
which the Sarkee planned his razzia. Not a soul in Zinder, besides
himself, knew where he was going. The general opinion was to Daura,
which affords scope for a thousand razzias.

The correspondence which I have mentioned between the vassals of Korgum
and Zinder illustrates the abominable system on which the Sheikh of
Bornou permits his provinces to be governed. Really it is difficult to
compare the condition of this extraordinary region to anything but a
forest, through which lions and tigers range to devour the weaker and
more timid beasts--to which they grant intervals of repose during the
digestion of their meals.

CHAPTER XVI.

Sheikh of Bornou--Arab Women--News from the Razzia--Procession of
newly-caught Slav