The Case Of The Artificial Horizon, Of Which Clapperton Had Lost The Key, Was Sometimes Very Difficult To Open, As Happened On This Occasion, And He Asked One Of The People Near Him For A Knife To Press Up The Lid.

The person handed him one much too small, and he quite inadvertently asked for a dagger for the same purpose.

The sultan was instantly thrown into a fright; he seized his sword, and half drawing it from the scabbard, placed it before him, trembling all the time like an aspen leaf. Clapperton did not deem it prudent to take the least notice of this alarm, although it was himself who had in reality the greatest cause of fear. On receiving the dagger, Clapperton calmly opened the case, and returned the weapon to its owner with apparent unconcern. When the artificial horizon was arranged, the sultan and all his attendants had a peep at the sun, and the breach of etiquette which Clapperton had committed, seemed to be entirely forgotten. In the evening the sultan sent him two sheep, a camel load of wheat and rice, and some of the finest figs which Clapperton had ever tasted in Africa.

On the following day, Clapperton returned the visit of Mahomed Gomsoo, the chief of the Arabs, of whose excessive greediness he had been warned at Kano, but at the same time recommended to make him a handsome present, and to endeavour by all means to keep him in good humour, on account of his great influence.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 480 of 1124
Words from 130979 to 131233 of 309561