. We have to pay them two reals a
camel-load for bringing us from Tintaghoda to Tintalous. We have hired
of them eleven camels in all. The original agreement was to carry our
goods and baggage from Mourzuk to Tintaghoda, for which we paid dear.

Having heard that the great En-Noor would receive me to-day or
to-morrow, as I pleased, I determined at once to see him, and made ready
the presents for his highness. We had some difficulty in making the
selection. At length we amassed a variety of things, of the value of one
hundred and twenty-two mahboubs prime cost, or about fifty-two reals
value here.

At the Asar (or 3 P.M.) I dressed, and went off to see the great man,
accompanied by my German colleagues. On entering the village, I at once
recognised in a long mud-shed the Sultan's palace. It seemed, indeed, a
palace compared with the circular hasheesh huts by which it was
surrounded; and in that direction, accordingly, we bent our steps. On
gaining admission, we found the mighty potentate half-dozing on his
couch. He woke up as we entered, and sitting upon his hams, politely
excused himself for being found _en deshabille_. To remedy this state of
things as much as possible, he immediately wound round his head a black
band or turban; and having thus improved his toilet, bade us sit down. I
took my place very near him, and observed his appearance with some
interest. He was a venerable-looking black, but, like most of the
Kailouees, had something of an European cast of features. They say he is
about seventy-eight years old, and manifestly suffers the infirmities of
that great age.

The dialogue was begun by the Sultan asking us how we were in health,
and whether we had not now more quiet than down on the road? Then he
added, that he was himself very poorly, but that at this season of the
year this was nothing uncommon. Being in a garrulous mood, he allowed us
little time to reply, and went on with a string of compliments. Of the
state of his own country he said, "There is now a general fermentation
throughout all the districts of Aheer. The people have thrown off the
yoke of their sultans or magistrates, and the roads are infested with
bands of robbers." In fact, it would appear that the inhabitants of this
out-of-the way kingdom have just fallen into the crisis of a revolution.
What grievances brought about this state of things we have not yet
learned; but, unfortunately for us, we have arrived at a most insecure
season.