visit to the marabout.--It is my
intention to send home fifty thousand African words for this expedition.
What future expeditions may do, if my life be spared, I cannot tell. I
speak for this. I imagine I have already sent to the Foreign Office six
thousand. I shall have five thousand, I hope, by the time I get to
Zinder--three of Soudanese, and two of Bornouese. I must try to get a
few words of the Aghadez language. These I can get, probably, at
Sakkatou. I must have another writer, or fighi. My present Bornouese
fighi is a very poor fellow.

_24th._--The Sunday soon came again, with the study of languages. Now
the time of our waiting here does not appear to be long enough. I have a
commercial dictionary to make.

En-Noor came to us after his return from his visit to his marabout
friend. He says of the late razzia at Tintaghoda, that the marabouts of
that town brought it all upon themselves, being the first to begin to
countenance attacks upon caravans (that is, ours). He does not pity
them; he does not care for them; and, he added, "They have now lost all
their reputation amongst the people." The fact is, when we came the
marabouts did not know what course to take, whether to attack us or to
receive us; so they chose the former, in their blinded judgment, and
brought all this evil upon their heads.

The Fadeea, or Kalfadai, have decamped with their booty and their
families to the Hagar, beyond the reach of recapture or revenge.

A scorpion was found in my tent to-day, running across the sandy floor.
We look upon them now as nearly harmless, whilst the cold weather has
deprived them of all force.

_25th._--Occupied with the languages. Time passes quickly.

_26th._--Began the Bornou grammar.

_27th._--A visit from En-Noor. He put on one of my gloves, and was much
amused with it. He held out his hand, and put it on the face of his
courtiers--showing fight. It was very white, which gave him occasion to
pass to my skin, and pity my being so white. I made several useful
remarks on Haussa grammar, and begin to understand the genius of the
language.

A caravan of ghaseb has arrived from Damerghou, by which we learn that
the Sfaxee and Fezzan merchants are arrived in that country. We have
been trying to buy ghaseb of the people, or of En-Noor; but it appears
we were too late, for it is said to be all gone. The dollars are worth
only 1750 wadas here, whilst in Kanou they pass for 2500. Every article
is depreciated in