Scarcity of Money--Proceed through a rocky
Country--Soudan Weather--Approach the Frontiers of Aheer--Storm--Hard
Day's Travelling--The Seven Wells of Aisou--"The Haghar are
coming"--Suspicious Characters--Alarm--The Three Strangers--Our
Hospitality--Heat of the Weather--Hard Travelling--Account of the
Kailouee Guides--Women of the Caravan--Their Treatment--Youthful
Concubines--Another long Day--A Rock-Altar--Demonstrations of the
Haghar--Wells of Jeenanee--Marks of Rain--Sprightly Blacks--New
Climate--Change in the Vegetation and the Atmosphere.

We have at length heard what appears to be a fair account of the rumour
respecting that terrible Sidi Jafel. He did leave Janet as if bound for
Tajetterat; but it was for the purpose of giving his camels a feeding of
herbage in that direction. He took his family and tents with him, and
has been seen with his son by the huntsman of Wady Aroukeen. He is not a
sheikh, but a spirited old man; and, from what I can understand, is a
Haghar belonging to Ghemama, and not an Azgher of Ghat. They now assure
us that he had never any intention of attacking us; but as there is
rarely smoke without a fire, it is possible he may have indulged in a
little threatening talk, just to impress an idea of his importance on
the people of Janet. This is Waled Shafou's view of the case.

We moved on from the well of Esalan in the evening, but only for an hour
and a half, to a place in the same wady; where there was abundant
herbage for the camels. Here we had another Tuarick dispute. Wataitee
pretended to fix at a very high rate his services in answering to our
call, and proceeding with us as far as this well. At first I refused to
give anything at all, since he had stipulated to conduct us as far as
the frontiers of Aheer. I then offered him a burnouse (a small white
one), and a shasheeah (or fez), both which he obstinately rejected in my
teeth, but did not state what he wanted--except muttering, "Money,
money, money!"

Fearing some violence from his threatening manner, I was obliged to load
my guns and pistols. Whilst declaring he would not take anything by
force, he used very threatening language. He was to have left us at the
well, but followed us this evening; and when we decamped I determined,
therefore, if possible, to come to some arrangement with him through
En-Noor, as he might prove a dangerous enemy.

Whilst speaking to Yusuf on this subject, En-Noor the Kailouee, who, by
the bye, must