to lose all patience, and swore by the bashaw’s head, that he would return to the tents, if he was not immediately admitted, he got, however, no satisfaction but a motion of the hand from one of the chiefs, meaning “wait patiently;” and Major Denham whispered to him the necessity of obeying, as they were hemmed in on all sides, and to retire without permission would have been as difficult as to advance.  Barca Gana now appeared, and made a sign that Boo Khaloom should dismount; the Europeans were about to follow his example, when an intimation that Boo Khaloom was alone to be admitted, fixed them again to their saddles.  Another half hour at least elapsed, without any news from the interior of the building, when the gates opened, and the four Englishmen only were called for, and they advanced to the skiffa (entrance).  Here they were stopped most unceremoniously by the black guards in waiting, and were allowed one by one only to ascend a staircase; at the top of which they were again brought to a stand by crossed spears, and the open flat hand of a negro laid upon their breast.  Boo Khaloom came from the inner chamber, and asked, “If we were prepared to salute the sheik, as we did the bashaw.”  They replied, “certainly;” which was merely an inclination of the head, and laying the right hand on the heart.  He advised their laying their hands also on their heads—­but they replied the thing was impossible.  They had but one manner of salutation for any body, except their own sovereign.

Another parley now took place, but in a minute or two he returned, and they were ushered into the presence of the sheik of spears.  They found him in a small dark room, sitting on a carpet, plainly dressed in a blue tobe of Soudan, and a shawl turban.  Two negroes were on each side of him, armed with pistols, and on his carpet lay a brace of those instruments.  Fire arms were hanging in different parts of the room, presents from the bashaw and Mustapha L’Achmar, the sultan of Fezzan, which are here considered as invaluable.  His personal appearance was prepossessing, apparently not more than forty-five or forty-six, with an expressive countenance and benevolent smile.  They delivered their letter from the bashaw, and after he had read it, he inquired, “What was our object in coming?” They answered, “to see the country merely, and to give an account of its inhabitants, produce, and appearance; as our sultan was desirous of knowing every part of the globe.”  His reply was, “that we were welcome, and whatever he could show us would give him pleasure; that he had ordered huts to be built for us in the town, and that we might then go, accompanied by one of his people, to see them, and that when we were recovered from the fatigue of our long journey, he would be happy to see us.”  With this, they took their leave.  Their huts were little round mud buildings, placed within a wall, at no great distance from the residence of the sheik.  The enclosure was quadrangular, and had several divisions, formed by partitions of straw mats, where nests of huts were built, and occupied by the stranger merchants, who accompanied the kafila.  One of these divisions was assigned to the Europeans, and they crept into the shade of their earthly dwellings, not a little fatigued with their entree and presentation.