resented it, I believe it will provoke little or no opposition.
The clauses with reference to religion and the slave-trade have, of
course, been left out; the first as unnecessary, the second as dangerous
at this early stage of our proceedings. Even already it may be said that
the market at Ghat may safely be visited by British merchants; for
although Hateetah may require heavy presents, he will certainly protect
them.

However, we must bear in mind, that in a country governed in so
irregular way, it is very difficult to answer for the future. The
governor, Haj Ahmed himself, told me in a deprecating manner, "Ghat is a
country of Sheikhs!" and Hateetah says, half jocularly, "Ghat has thirty
Sultans!" Fortunately, however, it is the interest of the rulers of this
part of the desert to encourage traffic; they live by it; otherwise it
would be dangerous to trust to their assurances.

We were in all but seven days in Ghat, so that I had no time to make
researches. However, I am fortunate in procuring a collection of
dialogues and a vocabulary of most of the common words in the Tuarick
dialect of the tribes in Ghat. I employed for this purpose Mohammed
Shereef, nephew of the Governor of Ghat, who is a pretty good Arabic
scholar. I have also made an arrangement with my friend Haj Ibrahim to
forward to the British Government a small quantity of Soudan
manufactures for the Exhibition of 1851; so that the industry and
handicraft of the dusky children of Central Africa may be represented
side by side with the finished works of Paris and London artisans.[6]

[6] This account of Mr. Richardson's residence at Ghat is copied
from a summary in his journal, with occasional insertions
from his despatches to Government. It is very brief and
imperfect; but the traveller was so fully occupied by
various kinds of business during his stay, that he was not
able to write, and only threw upon paper a rough memorandum
after he had started on his way to Aheer. The imperfection
is the less to be regretted, as, up to this point, the
Sahara had previously been pretty well travelled and
described. He now breaks fresh ground, and is more copious
in his notes.--ED.

CHAPTER XI.

Start from Ghat--Reflections--Beautiful Valley of Berket--Last
Date-palms--The Kailouees--Dr. Barth lost again--Meet our Guides--The
Akourou Water--Ghadeer--Soudan Influence on the Tuaricks--Wataitee
lea