ctor found it prudent to remain
within the walls of his house, though he received visits from numerous
people. From the flat roof of his house he was, however, able to enjoy
air and exercise, and at the same time obtained a view of what was going
on in the city. For some time he suffered severely from fever, while
rain and thunder-storms occurred nearly _every_ day.

He here heard much about Major Laing, who, after being almost killed by
the Tawarek, was kindly received in the camp of the sheikh's father. He
tried to obtain the major's papers, but found that they had all been
destroyed. He was much pleased with the Sheikh El Bakay, who treated
him with real kindness, and regretted that he could not keep his
troublesome brother Alawate in order. On one occasion he made the
doctor fire off his six-barrelled pistol, in front of his house, before
a numerous assemblage of people. This excited great astonishment, and
exercised much influence upon his future safety, as it made the people
believe that he had arms all over his person, and could fire as many
times as he liked.

The city of Timbuctoo is about three miles in circumference. The town
is laid out partly in rectangular, partly in winding streets, covered
with hard sand and gravel. Besides two market-places there are few open
areas. There are about nine hundred and eighty clay houses, and a
couple of hundred conical huts, of matting mostly, on the outskirts.
Three large mosques and three smaller ones are the only places of
worship, there being no other public buildings of any size. It is
divided into quarters, one of which is especially inhabited by
Mahommedans, though the larger number of the people profess to have
faith in the Prophet. There are about thirteen thousand settled
inhabitants, and, during the time of the greatest traffic, from five to
ten thousand people visit the city.

A fanatical party, hearing that a Christian had come to the place, made
various attempts to destroy him. By the advice of his kind protector,
the sheikh, he determined to leave the city with him, and take up his
residence in the desert. As he rode forth on his white mare, the
natives thronged the streets in order to get a glance at the Christian
stranger. He was thankful to find himself once more in the fresh air of
the desert. Here he passed several days in the most quiet and retired
manner, much recovering his health.

He then paid another visit to Timbuctoo, and was