going towards a centre instead of from a centre. Mourzuk, on
the contrary, holds itself in connexion with the Arabs of the coast; and
seems to receive no influence from the interior except by means of the
Tibboos, who form a kind of connecting link. There is a considerable
sprinkling of this curious people in the lower portions of the
population of Mourzuk, and there are always some genuine specimens to be
met with in the streets. It may be said, however, that both the capital
of Fezzan and Ghat itself seem rendezvous from all parts of Africa; and
I imagine, that in all the souk (market) cities of the interior the same
fact will be observed. However, it will remain true, no doubt, that
south of Ghat the influence of Soudan will be far more sensibly marked
than on the other side.

The son of Shafou, Mahommed Wataitee, who seems to have made up his mind
to shirk the journey to Aheer, left us this morning to go to Aroukeen
and meet his father, who is encamped with his flocks and dependants
around that well. No doubt it is fashionable in Ghat land to be "out of
town" at this season of the year. Our Kailouees have determined to take
another and more direct road, avoiding Aroukeen and the Azgher Tuaricks
in its neighbourhood. Waled Shafou says, he shall fall in with us
somewhere about Falezlez; but this seems somewhat doubtful. When people
separate in the desert they must not calculate on meeting again in a
hurry. We parted about three hours from the water of Akourou, the road
to Aroukeen branching off there. He took the easterly route and we the
westerly, and we were soon out of sight. Our way still lay through
desert-hills, but with vegetation frequently. There was talk of the
small oasis of Janet to our left; and we indulged in some pastoral
reflections on the life of contemplative ease and primitive simplicity
which would be indulged in in such an out-of-the way place.

We seem to have got into some scrape with the Kailouees. Besides the
hundred dollars which Haj Ibrahim paid them to conduct us from Aheer to
Zinder, it appears he promised them some burnouses, when we have none
for them. They mentioned the subject to-day, very naturally. We must do
as well as we can. They seem civil enough; but an incident has just
occurred which has much displeased me.

It appears that when these people came to Ghat, a few weeks ago, they
left a sick slave with some shepherds among these rocks. To-day they
inquired about the slave, whe