disappeared during the night, and gone to their homes. We now commenced
our last stage to Tintalous. Mounted on my camel, I could not help
reflecting that we were tormented to the very doors of the dwelling of
En-Noor, that the people seemed determined we should have no rest till
we arrived there. Afterwards, peradventure, we may find a little repose;
but who can tell?

The rain incommoded us as we advanced. However, in two hours we arrived
at the little village of Asara, where half-a-dozen inhabitants greeted
us with a stare; and an hour afterwards entered the broad and spacious
valley of Tintalous, firing a salute as we did so, in compliment to the
inhabitants.

We had heard much of the great city of Tintalous; and I confess that,
though accustomed to desert exaggerations, my mind had dwelt upon this
place so long, that I expected a much more imposing sight than that
which presented itself. This mighty capital consisted of a mass of
houses and huts, which we calculated to be no more than a hundred and
fifty in number, situated in the middle of the valley, with trees here
and there interspersed. It was nothing but a large village. Still, as
the termination of our journey for the present, and its bearing a name
which has been hitherto thrown down at haphazard anywhere towards the
centre of the southern Sahara, we hailed it with delight. Both huts and
houses wore a truly Soudan character, and I felt that to a certain
extent the object of the Mission was already accomplished.

Mohammed En-Noor chose us out a good place for an encampment, upon some
sand-hills overlooking the entire country. When we had pitched tent, Mr.
Yusuf Moknee was despatched to carry our compliments to the great man of
the town, Sultan En-Noor. This distinguished personage he found laid up
with rheumatism, and unable to receive us as we desired. However, he
expressed a wish to see Dr. Overweg in his character of medical man, and
made a long harangue to Yusuf, the substance of which was, that inasmuch
as we had come from Constantinople,[13] from Tripoli, from Fezzan, from
Ghat, in peace and safety, why should he think of eating us up and
destroying us, like the people of Taghajeet and others?--"No; let the
Christians rest in peace. I will now protect them--let them not fear. If
I had not been ill, I would have come myself, and fetched them from
Taghajeet, and no one should have touched them. Now, I will take them
myself to Zinder, or send my sons wi