sion of much intelligence, which he really possesses. He is the
most respected of all the merchants on this route.

When he left us, he sent us a present of Aheer dates, which were large
and exceedingly well tasted.

_22d._--We stopped in the valley of Taghajeet all day, waiting for the
Haghars, but they did not make their appearance. In the morning early, I
distributed powder and shot to about forty of our people. Each had half
a cupfull of powder and twelve shots. It was an immense present for
them, and they were all greatly rejoiced at the gift. It is extremely
difficult for people to obtain powder and shot in these countries. We
made a line of barricades with the boat. Amongst our defenders appeared
the three Azgher Tuaricks,[10] who followed us from Tajetterat, and
overtook us above the well of Aisou. We gave them powder and shot, and
they swore they would die for us.

[10] Those people are sometimes called Haghar, and sometimes
Azgher, in the journal. The latter appellation is probably
the correct one in this case.--ED.

In the evening two mounted men came up, and made the same demand of our
escort that the single man had made the night before; namely, that they
should give us Christians up to forty or fifty Tuaricks, collected from
the various districts around. This impudent demand was again rejected.

The opinion of all the caravan now seemed to be, that this was an idle
threat of some dozen bandits, and that the people generally would not
turn out inimical.

Merchant Waldee came again this evening, and gave us increased
encouragement not to be afraid.

The more we saw of this man the better we liked him. He brought for us,
also, the favourable news that the Sheikh of Bornou was on good terms
with his neighbours, the people of Wadai and Darfour. I shall endeavour
to return _via_ these countries to the Mediterranean, if possible. Our
people fired again to-night. In the evening I presented Boro of Aghadez
with a fine burnouse, and his son with a shasheeah and a fateh. I gave a
fateh also to one of his relations, who is travelling with him. He was
highly pleased with the gift, and expressed his pleasure in many
compliments. Of giving gifts there is no end; but this is the time, or
never, when they will be useful.

_23d._--Before we started, another fellow came riding up from the
rumoured troop of bandits, and demanded of our escort that they should
give us into their hands. Boro remembered his