securing, in a manner, the future friendship of Tahar, whose district was always considered as the most dangerous part of the Tibboo country on the road to Mourzuk. > Tahar was a sharp, intelligent fellow, spoke a little Arabic, and had often asked me many questions about my country, and my sultan ; but to-day he was more inquisitive than usual “ Rais Khaleel,” said he, “ what would your sultan do to Min Ali, if he was to go to England ? Would he kill me, or keep me there a prisoner? I should like to be there for about a month.” I answered, “ Certainly neither one nor the other: he would be much more inclined to make you a handsome present, and send you back again.” Min Ah. “ Oh! I should take him something ; but what could I give him ? nothing but the skins of a dozen ostriches, some elephants’ teeth, and a lion’s skin.” Ans. “ The value of the present could be of no importance to my sultan; he would look at the intention : befriend his people—remember the Inglezi that you have seen; and should any more ever find their way to your tents, give them milk and sheep, and put them in the road they are going: promise me to do this, and I can almost promise you, that my sultan shall send you a sword, such a one as Hateeta had on my return, without your going to England, or giving him any thing.” Min Ali. “ Is he such a man ? Barak Allah! What’s his name ?” “ George.” “ George ! Health to George; much of it! Salam Ali: George Yassur. Tell him, Min Ali Tahar wishes him all health and happiness ; that he is a Tibboo who can command a thousand spears, and fears no man. Is he liberal ? Is his heart large ? Gulba Kebir. Does he give presents to his people ?” “ Very much so, indeed; some of his people think him too generous.” Min Ali. “ By the head of my father! Raas el Booe! they are wrong; the sultan of a great people should have a large heart, or he is unworthy of them. Who will succeed him when he dies ?” “ His brother.” “ What is his name?” “ Frederick.” If Barak Allah ! I hope he will be like George, mat look, liberal. Salem Ali ! Frederick. Health to Frederick! How many wives have they?” “ No Englishman has more than one,” said I. “ A gieb ! a gieb ! Wonderful! wonderful! why they should have a hundred.” . “ N o ! no ! we think that a sin,” replied I. “ Wallah ! really (literally, by G— !) why I have four now; and I have had more than sixty. Her I like best, however, always says, one would be more lawful: she may be right. You say she is. You are a great people. I see you are a great people, and know every thing. I, a Tibboo, am, little better than a gazelle.” The road to-day was thickly scattered with trees—saw flocks of red cattle, and killed a wild hog. The hyaenas came so close to the tents last night, that a camel, which lay about a hundred yards from the enclosure, was found nearly half-eaten. A lion first made a meal on the poor animal; when the hyaenas came down upon what he had left. We had fires the whole night; and notwithstanding the continued howlings which these animals kept up until daylight, our rest was but little disturbed.—Halted near a water, called Chugelarem. We had now about eleven miles to make, previous to arriving at Yeou. 18th.—Chugelarem, though said to be a branch of the Tchad, was merely a still water, increased considerably by the overflowings of that lake in the wet season : the bottom was muddy, and nowhere deeper than two feet. The camels, horses, and followers of the kafila, waded through it without being much above their knees: it takes a zigzag direction, going first to the east, then to the north, and then to the east again. We proceeded south, passing several very neat negro villages ; and after about eleven miles, came to a very considerable stream, called the Yeou, in some parts more than fifty yards wide, with a fine hard sandy bottom, and banks nearly perpendicular, and with a strong current running three miles and a half in an hour to the eastward. As I expected, every one of the Arabs said this was the i 2
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