out that; but
the present of En-Noor was the largest we had ever made, and it would
have been better to have brought with us letters of recommendation for
robbers than such people. All this comes after it had been noised abroad
through the whole village that En-Noor was greatly rejoiced at the
present, and all the people were happy and content. Such, however, is
the dependence to be placed on reports in the African kingdom of Aheer!
However, I am determined to give way to no more vain fears, but to
preserve as much as possible of the property of Government. I am sorry
to say that I receive no assistance in my efforts to save the money with
which I have been entrusted.

I am now writing to Mr. Gagliuffi on the subject of the great losses and
shameless extortion to which we were subjected on our arrival in this
country. In reviewing the whole affair, setting apart the personal
devotion exhibited towards myself, I have no cause to be pleased with
our escort and servants. They gave way too easily to fear, and, seem to
have been too willing to allow us to buy ourselves off. I have omitted
to mention that they wished us to write a document, to the effect that
if we came to harm it was not through their fault! This singular idea
was, of course, rejected. I must observe, that not only we, but all our
caravan, were prodigiously disappointed by the reception we met with.
The Haghars were expected to be troublesome, and their alleged pursuit
of us was sufficiently probable; but no one admitted that there was any
danger from the people of Aheer. On the contrary, all professed delight
at the prospect of entering the inhabited districts, where it was
thought and boldly proclaimed we should all have the most cordial
welcome. Yet the Haghars did not come, and the borderers of Aheer
treated us as badly as the wildest Tuaricks could have done, behaving
like veritable brigands. I entertain some faint hopes of obtaining
redress; but have been so often deceived, that I shall say nothing for
the present on the subject.

_Friday, 13th Sept._--I rose early; a fine morning. Thermometer at a
quarter to seven P.M. under tent, 78 deg.. We had a visit early from the
son-in-law of En-Noor and his two friends, who had found the camels.
They were extremely polite, and much pleased when I sent them to the
Sfaxee to receive forty metagals for the recovery of the four lost
camels (one is not yet come up). Then I had a visit from one of the
slaves of En