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f clothing, and other little things. I gave them a handkerchief, with which they were greatly delighted. We had a perfect Soudan atmosphere to-day. The heavens were surcharged with clouds, and when the sun appeared through them for a few minutes, it was burning, scorching hot. The abundance of herbage and trees in Wady Jeenanee combined with these circumstances to show that we had entered the gates of a new climate. _21st._[9]--We started late, seven A.M., and journeyed about six hours, the camels eating nearly all the way, which gave our Tuarick caravan the appearance of a company of Arabs. To-day the herbage and trees increased, in abundance and variety, and we saw several pretty wild flowers. We observed many Soudan trees, or trees with tropical aspects. Our route lay through rocky valleys, over a bed of fine granite sand. The rocks were all blackened, forming a gloomy landscape, especially as all the morning the heavens were one impenetrable mass of clouds. The atmosphere felt, at first, damp and suffocating; but at length the wind got up, and we breathed more freely. [9] Here is a day repeated in the journal; but as it is not of much moment, I have made no alteration.--ED. CHAPTER XIV. Enter the inhabited Districts of Aheer--Hostile Tuaricks--An impudent Demand--The Merchant Waldee--Prepare for Defence--Threatening Appearances--Making Friends with Presents--March--Leave Waldee--Doubtful Visitors--The Camels stolen--The Troop of Assailants draws nigh--Parley--Their Proposition--We are compelled to a Compromise--Character of our Enemies--Sinister Rumours again--Proceed toward Tidek--Wady of Kaltadak--Picturesque Scenery--A Friend from Seloufeeat--Fresh Mob collects to attack us--Conferences--We are to be let go scot-free if we become Muslims--We repose--Another Compromise for Money--Incidents during the Night--Quarrel over the Booty--Enter the Valley of Seloufeeat--Its Soudan Appearance--Nephew of Sultan En-Noor--Haj Bashaw of Seloufeeat--We are still uneasy. As we advanced, on the 21st, along the plain between the granite rocks--trees and flowers starting up thicker and thicker from the ground to greet our approach--our guides told us that we were at length entering the inhabited districts of the kingdom of Aheer, or Asben, as it is indifferently called. This announcement at once substituted pleasurable for uneasy sensations. We thought no more at all of pursuing robbers, and gave ourse
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