. En-Noor says we must
send him some trifle as a present. There remain yet to come Lousou and
some others. I am glad we are not expected to give much in these cases,
as our means would not allow us to do so. I sent to Astakeelee a red
cloth caftan or long loose gown, a white turban, a fez, a small
looking-glass, and a few cloves for the Sultana, the total value about
twelve dollars.

Serious news has just come in from the northern frontier. It appears
that the Azgher who followed us all the way from Aisou to Aheer,
secretly exciting the people against us, have joined with the Kailouee
borderers in an attack upon a small Tibboo caravan. Two of the merchants
have been killed, and thirty-five slaves stolen and carried away over
the desert, in the direction of Tuat.

This news was brought in the afternoon by a caravan of Fezzanees, who
have arrived from Ghat. They declare that they buried the bodies of the
two murdered men. A servant who escaped gave them the rest of the news.
It is probable that the Tibboos made considerable resistance on the
road, as they are brave fellows, and this resistance occasioned their
being murdered. The news has produced great excitement.

The people begin to see the evil effects of countenancing the forced
exactions made upon us. This will be an instructive lesson to the holy
marabouts of Tintaghoda, who headed the tribes of the frontier against
us unfortunate Christians.

When we met these very small caravans on the road, with only two owners,
three or four servants, and some forty or fifty slaves, and all without
arms, or perhaps with only a couple of swords, I used to wonder at their
apparent security, and could not help observing, when we were night and
day pursued by bandits, "These robbers must have an extraordinary
affection for Muslims, and be very Deists themselves; for these few
defenceless people pass unmolested, and we are pursued continually,
although our caravan is full of arms."

En-Noor and the new Sultan of Aghadez have been talking loudly of a
razzia to the north; they will now see its absolute necessity, unless
the route between Aheer and Ghat is to be closed, except for very large
caravans.

The Fezzanees who left Ghat nineteen days after us also say that before
they started the news had arrived there that the Christians were all
murdered by the people of Janet. They add, besides, that they met Waldee
at Tajetterat, together with the people of Janet, amounting to seve