ady to receive her. She then took each by the head and
neck, and pressed their heads between her legs--they sitting, she
standing--not in the most decent way, and made over them, with her whole
body, certain inelegant motions, not to be mentioned. She then put their
hands and arms behind their backs, and after several other wild cries
and jumps, and having for a moment thrown herself flat upon the ground,
she declared to each and all _their future_--their fortune, good or bad.
I did not stop to see the result of the ceremony. The slaves carry these
mysteries with them in their servitude, and the practice of such
indecent and profane things tolerated by the Muslims of the coast. The
Moors and Arabs, indeed, have great faith in these mysteries, and resort
to them to know _their future_.

I made this day a list of objects of barter:--A looking-glass in a tin
case, value, in Tripoli, thirty paras, purchases here two sahs of
ghaseb. A common print handkerchief, value fourpence English money, only
purchases three or four sahs of ghaseb.

Eight draa of fine white calico are equal to one metagal; three of which
metagals is a large dollar. (This does not sell at much advantage.)

I this day finished my dispatch, dated from Esalan, respecting the
disputes and disagreements I had with the Tuaricks of Ghat; but since
then these Haghars have, indeed, appeared very moderate people to us.

Thermometer at half-past twelve P.M., under tent, 92 deg. Fahr.

Instead of much rain, we have had a squall of wind this afternoon,
attended by a slight shower.

In the afternoon, Yusuf came, with a menacing tone, from En-Noor,
saying, we must pay ten metagals (of this country) for finding each of
the lost camels; or if not, this sum would be taken from us by force.
Yusuf added, also, that En-Noor was dissatisfied with his present; that
the Sultan had remarked to him,--"It was a present for servants, and he
had given it all away to the people." Moreover, that yesterday came
several persons, marabouts, from Tintaghoda, who mentioned their
displeasure to En-Noor because they had not yet received anything.

I was just rejoicing at the finding of three lost camels; but it seems
we are not to have a moment of repose or enjoyment in Aheer. It may be,
hereafter, "sweet to remember these things," but it is now a sad trial
of patience to bear them. I abused En-Noor and our servants in turn. As
to the forty metagals, there was not a question ventured ab