The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-08-02
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From the London .Ne,c Monthly .Magasine. I
Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in North
ern and Central Africa in the years 1922,
1928, and 1924, by Major Denham, Cap
tain Clapperton, and the late Dl. Oudney,
&c. Continued.
On the following day our traveller
had his first audience of the Sultan
Bello.
March l7.-After breakfast the Sui
tan sent for me; his residence was at no
great distance In front of it there is
large quadrangle, into which several of
the principal streets of the city lead.
We passed through three coozees, as
guard-houses, without the least deten-
ton, and were Immediately ushered in
to the presence of Bello, the second
Sultan of the Felatahs. He was seated
on small carpet, between Two pillars
supporting the roof of matched house,
not unlike one of our cottages. The
walls and pillars were painted blue and
white, in the Moorish taste and on the
back wall was sketched 6re-screen, or
namented with a coarse painting of a
flower-pot. An armchair, with an iron
lamp standing on it, was placed on each
side of the screen. The Sultan bade me
many hearty welcomes, and asked me if
was not much tired with my journey
from Burderawa. | told him il was the
most severe travelling had experience
ed between Tripoli and Sackatoo, and
thanked him for the guard, the conduct
of which | did not fail 10 commend 10
the strongest terms.
He asked me great many questions
about Europe, and our religious distinc-
lions. He was acquainted with the
names Of some Of the more ancient
sects, and asked whether we were Mes
t6riaus or Socinians. To extricate my
self from the embarrassment occasioned
by this question, bluntly replied we
were called PTotestants. What are
Protestants % says he. attempted TO
explain TO him, as well as | was able,
that having protested, more than two
centuries and half ago, against the SUI
perstition, absurdi:es, and abuses prac-
tised in those days, we had ever since
protested TO follow simply what was
written in the book of our Lord Je-
sus," as they call the New Testament,
and thence received the name of Pro-
testants. He continued to ask several
other theological questions, until was
obliged TO confess myself not sufficiently
versed in religious subtieties TO resolve
these knotty points, having always left
that task 10 others more learned than
myself. He now ordered some books
to be produced which belonged TO Ma
Ijor Denham, and began 10 speak with
great bitterness of the late Boo-Kha-
loon, for making predatory iuroad in
to his territories; adding, in his own
words, {" am sure the bashaw of Trip
oil never meant TO strike me with one
hand, while he offers present with the
other at least il is strange way for
friends to act But what was your
friend doing there % he asked abruptly
assured The Sultan, that Major Denham
had no other object than to make a
short excursion into the country. The
books being brough: in, proved TO be a
4 Nautical Almanack, two Reviews, Lord
Bacop's Essays, and Major Denham's
Journal; all which the Sultan returned
: to me in the most handsome manner
Before taking leave, however, | had to
explain the contents of each, and was
set to read them, in order TO give him
an opportunity of hearing the sound OF
our language, which he thought very
beautiful. The Sultan is notebook
ing nan, forty-fourF years of age, al
though much younger in appearance
FIVE feet ten inches high, portly in per
con, with a shorl curling black beard, a
small mouth, fine forehead, Grecian
nose, and large black eyes. He VIA;
dressed in light blue cotton ,obe, with
a white muslin turban, the shawl Of
which he wore over the nose and mouth
in the Turkish fashion.
In the afternoon | repeated my Wis
it, accompanied by the gadado, Mahom
; ed FL Wordee, and Mahomed Gumsoo
the principal Arab Of the city, TO whom
had letter Of introduction from Ha
Salah at Kano. The Sultan was sitting
in the same apartment in which he re