twenty pounds sterling, and that the
agent is expressly requested not to advance any more! This extraordinary
document induced me to look further, and it soon appeared that the
documents on which I relied so much were mere delusions. The wording of
the Arabic letter to Bornou was ambiguous; but in as far as I and my
interpreter could make it out, Haj Bashaw, to whom it is addressed, was
requested, if he had any money of Mr. Gagliuffi's in hand, to give me _a
little_! I really did not expect that a person in whom I had placed so
much confidence would play me this trick. But it seems that Levantines
are and will be Levantines to the end of time. I have written to
Government, complaining of this unworthy conduct.

_3d._--Dr. Barth is about to take advantage of the delay necessarily
incurred at Tintalous to visit Aghadez, the real capital of Aheer, to
which the new Sultan has lately been led, and where his investiture will
shortly be celebrated. This journey will extend our knowledge of this
singular Saharan country, and may also be of advantage in procuring the
signature of the Sultan to a treaty of commerce.

_4th._--Dr. Barth started this morning in company with Hamma, Waled Ocht
En-Noor (son of the sister of En-Noor). The departure took place in
presence of the Sultan himself, who had come to take tea with me. The
caravan was at first composed of bullocks, the camels being a little in
advance on the road. Our friend the Doctor started astride on one of
these animals, which are a little difficult to manage, especially when
they have been out at grass for some time. Indeed, in the first place,
it is no easy matter to catch them from amongst the herds; then it is
hard to load them; and then, though not often, they refuse to proceed.
On this occasion a powerful brute proved absolutely unmanageable.
En-Noor, seeing its obstinacy, exclaimed that he gave it to me to kill
and eat. He afterwards, however, modified his gift, and said that the
bullock was also to be distributed amongst the Arabs of the caravans now
in Tintalous; and that we were to give a turban as a present to the
herdsman. I was told that, in the meantime, representation had been made
to him, to the effect that it was unfair to distinguish the Christians
in this manner. Soon after the animal was given it ran away, and no one
could catch it.

Well, the bullock caravan went off in good style; and Sultan En-Noor
remained taking his tea and eating English pickles