s comfortable home in every large city of the interior of
Africa, and no one inquires whether he exceeds the number fixed by the
law of the Prophet or not. Indeed, no one knows how many wives he has,
or where they are.
Ferajee, of the escort, had a particular salutation, by which he used
always to address me. It continues to be repeated by some of our people:
"Othrub Gonsul! Fire off the gun, O Consul! Othrub Gonsul!" This salute
I always heard when Ferajee was in a good humour, and now it is used to
signify that our affairs are looking up.
According to a Tanelkum, Janet is entirely peopled by Azgher or Ghat
Tuaricks, and members of the tribe of Aheethanaran, who now live on good
terms with the Azgher. This tribe is scattered about as far as Falezlez.
It was the people of the same tribe who formed a razzia expedition
against us. The oasis of Janet, however, is not independent. It is
subject to Shafou; but has a local government of its own.
Every day brings the news of a new razzia. This morning it is reported
that some brigands of Oulimid who inhabit a district beyond Aghadez,
came down upon the people of Aghadamou, a place five days from
Tintalous, on the route of Soudan, destroyed their houses, and carried
away a great number of their camels. Aghadamou is represented to be a
wady, with a number of huts scattered about. I had not heard of this
place before as being on the Soudan route.
In the afternoon En-Noor walked out, and came up to me and saluted me.
As I passed by his highness I had an opportunity of noticing his dress.
He wore over the body a plain blue-checked Soudan robe, with trousers of
a similar material; on his head was a red cap bound round with a
blue-black bandage (turkadee), in the form of a turban, but also
brought, according to the invariable custom of the Tuaricks, over and
under the eyes. His shoes were the common Soudan sandals; and thus, with
a long wand, or a white stick, he proceeded with a slow-measured pace
through the streets of the town. A dependant followed the Sultan at a
short distance, but the absence of an escort proclaimed how deep-rooted
was his authority.
To-day, for the first time, En-Noor sent to buy something of us, viz. a
loaf of white sugar. As Overweg is going to Asoudee under the protection
of En-Noor, I gave him the loaf of sugar, and told him to send it, on
his part, as a present to the Sheikh, and at the same time to ask him to
get his escort ready.
The Fezzan
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