the anecdote, as a joke, of the monkey shaving the cat in
Paris; but this he took seriously, for he observed, "That is nothing; I
have seen the monkeys crack lice just like men." It is always a
difficult matter to translate a joke to these people. Overweg has been
out these last two days hunting for ostrich eggs, in the places which
these birds frequent. He saw their footprints, dung, feathers, &c., and
two specimens, but found no eggs. It appears this is a most difficult
bird to catch.

En-Noor continues to be very friendly. I get milk now every morning, for
which I pay sugar and coffee. His highness and his people went out
yesterday to dig a well, about two hours distant. All the water in this
place is exhausted. It appears to be merely a deposit of rain-water
under the sand, at a depth of from four or five to eight feet. It
becomes, as in this case, entirely exhausted before the commencement of
the next rains; but of course there are some springs, and many wells
which are not dried up during the whole year.

N.B.--If I remain a month at Zinder, I must make a little excursion
amongst the Bornou villages and see the rustic life of the people; but I
fear it will be a bad place to hear the pure Bornouese language. I still
hope to go off early to Sakkatou, and finish quickly with Soudan. In
these matters the Germans are better off than I am, and have not to wait
for money.[10]

[10] Nearly the whole of this long account of a residence in
Aheer consists in the journals of Mr. Richardson of
disjointed fragments, jotted down almost without any
connexion. This was necessarily the case. Few incidents,
save an occasional visit from thieves, or a dispute with
that strange old gentleman, Sultan En-Noor, diversified
this period. However, the simple commonplace book of a
traveller in a totally new country can never be without its
interest. No doubt Mr. Richardson would have attempted, had
he survived, to throw all these observations into a
picture; but any attempt to do so on my part would have
probably resulted in the omission of characteristic traits,
and the introduction of extraneous ideas. The following
chapters appear to me to increase in interest, page by
page.--ED.

CHAPTER VII.

Razzia on the Fadeea--Haussa--Names of Places--Ant-track--Circular
Letter from Mourzuk--Vast Rock--Mustapha Bey's Letter--Effects of
Water--Butterfli