ard. I was Sultan, and had the riches of
the world at my command. _Over_ was the great doctor, and what he could
not cure, God himself could not cure. _Bar_ was the wise man, knowing
all languages and all things. We tried not to be pleased, but in vain.
Flattery is sweet, especially when enveloped in song.
The weather was hot to-day, and sultry. I made many little presents,
some to a fighi of Bornou, a Shoua Arab, who repeated the fatah to us.
It is reported that a great deal of the salt goes with En-Noor to
Zinder, from which we are separated by two days' journey, one of
villages and another of forest.
_9th._--The morning opened with wind, as usual, from the N.E. The
weather was cooler than yesterday. I visited a group of cottages, or
rather huts, and received a present of a korna for holding water. The
thatch of these primitive habitations was of bou rekaba stalks. The
korna is allowed to twine itself over the roofs, as the woodbine over
our cottages, and looks very pretty. This group of cottages was
inhabited by a single family,--alas! all slaves.
According to Overweg, the reason En-Noor beat his wife in the terrible
manner mentioned in this journal was, because she was accustomed to
glide out of her chamber at night to witness the dances--the beastly
dances of the north coast. I certainly was surprised to hear that she
was present at these filthy exhibitions. "Have I not bought you?" his
highness remonstrated with her. "Are you not my slave?" "No." she
replied; "I am your wife, not your slave." So the lady continued, till
she aggravated his highness into a great fury. Many Europeans, it must
be confessed, would beat their wives for a less cause.
It is now said, his highness goes first to Tesaoua. We start all
to-morrow, at any rate. The bells which cover the horses are without
clappers, but being close together they make a great jingling noise by
dashing one against another. Suppers were brought this evening, but the
singing and dancing were not continued. We had, however, at sunset, a
visit from a Hazna dancer,--a perfect specimen of African buffoonery and
jingling. He danced and sung with the wildest barbarity. He had two
followers, to pick up the offerings of the people. They beat two pieces
of stick together to the motion of his legs, hung with bells. The upper
part of his body was naked, whilst the lower part was covered with a red
and yellow apron. This man is said to drink beer, and is a professed
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