arkness. Our ambassadors were coming back with the message: "It is
arranged, O Consuls, that you shall pay a certain sum of money!"
Children of the desert, you are not the only ones who make a demand for
conscience sake, and then compound for cash!

We only afterwards learned how this negotiation was carried on with the
enemy. Some dramatic scenes were reported to us by our servants as
occurring between our escort and the assailing troop, mixed with
marabouts. En-Noor, on returning from us after we had declared that we
would die for our religion, drew his sword and cast it on the ground
before the people, calling out to the other Kailouees, "Come now, let us
all die with the Christians!" On the other hand, the fiercest of the
enemy every now and then got up and made as if they would rush at once
and spear us in our tents. Then there was reasoning of every
description, and tremendous quotations from the Koran. The most humane
proposed that we should have ten days' grace to reflect on our situation
before we were put to death. Our servants, who behaved well all through
this trying business, made a reasonable proposition, that we should be
taken to Tintalous to the great Sultan En-Noor, who should decide upon
our case. But this did not suit the purpose of these pious propagandists
of the Muslim faith, who swore that the book ordered them to slaughter
the unbelievers, and at length were graciously pleased to accept the sum
of thirty-five pounds sterling in goods!

_27th._--In the morning we wished to start at once, and get away from
this scene of our second disaster; but we had to stay to select the
goods which were to pay for our lives, liberties, and consciences.
However, we at length got off; and whilst the bandits were swearing, and
griping one another by the throat, and fighting over the booty, we
pushed hastily on towards Seloufeeat, which, according to our Tanelkums,
is really the first country of Asben. As we entered the valley our
people kept up a running fire, to alarm any one who might feel disposed
to attack us. We had been so much accustomed to inhospitality and
robbers of late, that we confidently expected further difficulties as
soon as we met with the inhabitants.

After a march of four hours we arrived, and encamped in the
neighbourhood of Seloufeeat. The valley has quite a Soudan appearance,
but solely on account of the presence of the doom palm. There are,
however, a considerable number of other trees,