f his friendship for the English, and his
determination to remain the ally of the Queen of England! He referred to
the time when the great Bello, sultan of Sakkatou, sent his ambassador
to request him (En-Noor) and all his people to subject themselves to the
Fellatahs. En-Noor gave him for answer, "I am under God, the servant of
God, and shall not submit myself to you or to any one upon earth. My
father, and grandfather, and great-grandfather, and all my ancestors,
ruled here, and were the servants of God, and I shall follow in their
steps." The Fellatahs then tried to seduce the people, but they all
said, "We have one Sultan, that is En-Noor." All the other authorities
of Aheer followed the example, and preserved their independence, the
people everywhere arming themselves with whatever weapons they had in
case a war should break out.

After this narrative, En-Noor spoke again of the English, and said he
should send a maharee for the Queen.

I gave him a fancy ring of the value of threepence, with a mock diamond
in it, which he immediately put on his finger with as much glee and
pride as the gayest Parisian coquette. Yusuf and the Sfaxee, being
present, swore it was _diamanti_; but I am quite sure the old Sheikh
understood the compliment. I also gave him a pair of bellows, a basin,
and a pint bottle with a little oil it; with all these things he was
greatly delighted, continually admiring and trying the bellows. When he
went out of the tent he himself carried all these articles away under
his arm.

With reference to our wish to start for Zinder, the Sultan says he will
send immediately for the boat, that it may be ready by the time Dr.
Barth returns from Aghadez, when he is determined himself to take that
route. He seems now in the enjoyment of good health. I felt much
satisfied with his visit. Certainly, when I reflect that in the northern
frontier of Aheer we were pursued for several days, like monsters not
fit to live, by armed bands, this appears to me extraordinary
condescension on the part of En-Noor. I hope we shall part in a friendly
manner. This worthy sovereign gives the present Sultan of Sakkatou, Ali
Bello, the character of a miser, but says that his father was a man of
liberality. He cannot exceed En-Noor himself in greediness.

The bad state of the Bornou route is accounted for by the desire the
Kailouees have to render it unsafe, so that they may have all the
caravans come along their own route. The s