Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 2 | Page 5

which supply Tintalous with water. They are nothing more than holes scooped out of the sand in the bed of the wady, and supplied by ma-el-matr, "rain-water," which collects only a few feet under the sand, and passes through no minerals.
I afterwards proceeded to the encampment of the slave caravan, which is going in a few days to Ghat. A native of that place--the chief, indeed--was exceedingly rude at our first rencounter, and the following dialogue took place:--
The Ghatee. Where are you going?
Myself. I am going to Sakkatou.
The Ghatee. What for?
Myself. To see the Sultan, who is my friend.
The Ghatee. How do you know him?
Myself. The English have known him for years past.
The Ghatee. Ah!
Myself. Yes.
The Ghatee. Have you any dollars--large dollars? (making a large circle with his thumb and forefinger.)
Myself. No: I don't carry money to Soudan, which is of no use to me. There I shall have wada.
Ghatee. Eh! Eh! But cannot you give me a turban?
Myself. No, I am not a merchant, I don't bring such things; go to the Arab merchants and buy.
Ghatee. Um! Um!
Myself. Do you know Mohammed Kafa in Ghat?
Ghatee. Oh, yes!
Myself. He is my friend.
Ghatee. Allah!
Myself. Yes; he sent me a fine dinner twice whilst I was in Ghat.
Ghatee. Allah! Allah!
Myself. Do you know Haj Ibrahim? He is my great friend.
Ghatee. Allah! Allah! (greatly surprised).
Myself. Why, how is it that you do not know me, Yakob, as I have been in Ghat many years before?
At this some of the other people of the caravan cried out, "Yes, yes, we all know Yakob;" so that I left the rude slave-merchant quite crest-fallen. He evidently, at first, wished to assume the airs of a Haghar, and bully me out of a present.
The caravan consisted of some thirty poor young women and children. There was also with them a small quantity of elephants' teeth.
Now that the moon is absent and the nights are clear we have a most splendid view of the heavens, its stars and constellations. The number of meteors darting to and fro overhead is very great--nearly one a minute shoots along. Some are only a faint glimmer, and have but the existence of a moment, whilst others are very beautiful and last several seconds.
5th.--The weather is improving; the strong gusts of wind have ceased, and so has the rain. We have now calm and fine days with moderate heat.
In the afternoon I received another visit from En-Noor, who came straight into my tent, like an old friend whom I had known for twenty years. He stopped with me at least an hour, drinking tea and smoking, chatting the while about his past history and present affairs. He reiterated again assurances of his friendship for the English, and his determination to remain the ally of the Queen of England! He referred to the time when the great Bello, sultan of Sakkatou, sent his ambassador to request him (En-Noor) and all his people to subject themselves to the Fellatahs. En-Noor gave him for answer, "I am under God, the servant of God, and shall not submit myself to you or to any one upon earth. My father, and grandfather, and great-grandfather, and all my ancestors, ruled here, and were the servants of God, and I shall follow in their steps." The Fellatahs then tried to seduce the people, but they all said, "We have one Sultan, that is En-Noor." All the other authorities of Aheer followed the example, and preserved their independence, the people everywhere arming themselves with whatever weapons they had in case a war should break out.
After this narrative, En-Noor spoke again of the English, and said he should send a maharee for the Queen.
I gave him a fancy ring of the value of threepence, with a mock diamond in it, which he immediately put on his finger with as much glee and pride as the gayest Parisian coquette. Yusuf and the Sfaxee, being present, swore it was diamanti; but I am quite sure the old Sheikh understood the compliment. I also gave him a pair of bellows, a basin, and a pint bottle with a little oil it; with all these things he was greatly delighted, continually admiring and trying the bellows. When he went out of the tent he himself carried all these articles away under his arm.
With reference to our wish to start for Zinder, the Sultan says he will send immediately for the boat, that it may be ready by the time Dr. Barth returns from Aghadez, when he is determined himself to take that route. He seems now in the enjoyment of good health. I felt much satisfied with his visit. Certainly, when I reflect that in the northern frontier of Aheer we were pursued for several days, like monsters not fit to live, by armed bands, this