help it,
whilst they are with us. Beg, beg, beg; this alone describes their
conduct towards us.

All the people we have had about us seem to have considered us their
lawful prey, and seek to gain their ends, if not by violence, at least
by continual importunities: still it must be acknowledged that the
Tanelkums rendered us considerable service on the road. But, even
without this claim, they would, no doubt, have still pursued the same
system of eternal begging.

This day and yesterday we had thunder, lightning, and much rain. The sky
was covered with clouds, yet the thermometer rose at half-past three in
the afternoon to 82 deg. in our tent. I walked a little before the tent
early this morning, to keep up my bodily vigour. I had a little internal
pain yesterday. If I suffer in Africa from disease, it will most
probably be from dysentery. God grant that I may escape, and be grateful
for his mercy!

Sultan En-Noor yesterday observed, respecting the passage of Christians
through these countries, "that after a short time the feelings of the
people would subside, and nothing more be thought of us." This may be;
but it will require the passage of many Christians before the tendency
to fanaticism is sufficiently curbed to render the road safe for them.

I mentioned in my diary at Mourzuk, that one of our blacks had exercised
the privilege of divorce with respect to his wife. This lady did not
leave the caravan, but has since passed from tent to tent, as the
caprice of fortune carried her. She was first taken up by Sakonteroua;
then by En-Noor, our Kailouee guide; and afterwards by some other
person. Yesterday I saw her in the tent of the Sfaxee. The poor woman
submits to the inconstancy of Fortune with marvellous fortitude. She is
now quite merry, and inclined to play the coquette. Poor thing! Let us
be thankful for her that she has been granted this elasticity of temper,
and that she is willing to the last to cheer gloom of whomsoever will be
cheered in return for a little tenderness and protection.

I insert a note upon the money used here:

The large dollar (douro) 7 Tunisian piastres.
The small dollar 5 Tun. piast. (in Mourzuk).
The large dollar 3 metagals.
The small dollar 2 metagals (in Tintalous).
One metagal 1000 wadas (in Tintalous).
One mahboub 7 Tun. piast. (60 paras in Mourzuk
and Tripoli).
One metagal