t
crowd of them, with their families and flocks, had marched up and
occupied a camp near the town; but they departed on the same day that
Dr. Barth arrived--even before he entered.

Early in the morning, Dr. Barth paid his respects to the Sultan. He was
a stout man, about fifty-five years of age--benevolent-looking, as far
as could be judged in spite of his face-wrappers. He sat in a large
room, supported by two massive columns, and received his visitors
kindly. The presents pleased him, and were acknowledged by the
counter-present of a fat ram, and by meals sent every day.

The ceremony of investiture took place on the 16th of October, and seems
to have been an imposing spectacle. Certain intricate forms are used to
express the combination of various Tuarick tribes in choosing this
foreign sultan. Succeeding it was the great festival, on which a
procession took place, in which the new chief, wearing the burnouse
which I had sent him, took part, with a great number of Tuaricks in
their best array. Immediately afterwards a razzia (of which both we and
Dr. Barth heard various conflicting reports) was agreed upon against the
tribes of the north, especially those who had molested our
expedition--the Fadeea. It was highly successful, and may perhaps be
useful in procuring respect for future travellers. Two thousand men went
out upon this foray, in which Abd-el-Kader was accompanied by
Astakeelee, the Sultan of the Kailouees. Some, indeed, say that the
latter only acted. Very little resistance was made, and I hear of only
one man being killed. The fellow who stole Barth's maharee was compelled
to restore him. Dr. Barth, however, though well-pleased on the whole
with his reception, did not venture to present the treaty. He obtained
some letters of recommendation to Soudan. Many of the distinguished
persons of Aghadez visited Dr. Barth during his stay, and altogether his
reception was satisfactory.

I have already mentioned that the Sultan of Aghadez, though elected and
controlled by a kind of aristocracy of sheikhs of various tribes, is
invested with the power of life and death. He is said to have a
frightful dungeon, into which guilty persons are thrown upon swords
sticking upright in the ground. In his warlike expeditions he is
regarded, however, as chief of some tribes only. The Kailouees have a
sultan of their own, and encamp apart. The Sakonteroua, or Sheikh of
Aghadez, exercises considerable influence. He is obliged a