s, flourish in immense
growth, sometimes adorned by garlands and festoons of luxuriant
parasitical plants. Wild animals of various kinds range at will in
unfrequented places, but do not seem to excite much terror. There are
gardens and cornfields in the neighbourhood of some of the towns and
villages, the cultivation being kept up during the dry months by
irrigation; but only a few of the inhabitants, mostly slaves, cultivate
the soil. Besides the grains I have mentioned, a few vegetables,
principally onions, are produced. Date-palms bear fruit, which is good,
but will not keep.

I have already mentioned the chief manufactures of Aheer. They flourish
to the greatest extent in Aghadez; but Tintalous also has its artizans.
Working in leather was very popular during our stay, in consequence of
the presence of a noted charm-writer--bags being necessary. A good many
cunning blacksmiths ply their trade in various places.

CHAPTER V.

Projected Departure for Damerghou--False Start--Picturesque
Caravan--Sultan's Views of White Skins--My Birthday--The Sultan fights
his Battles over again--His Opinion of Women--Bragging--The Razzia on
the Fadeea--Political News in the Desert--Cold Weather--Continue our
Journey--Bornouese Fighis--Tin-Tagannu--Trap for a Lion--Mousa's
Camels--A further Delay--Jackals and the Fire--Language of
Signs--Tintalousian Coquettes--Departure of the Zinder Caravan--Natural
Features--Languages--The Kilgris--Killing Lice--The Razzia to the
North--Present of a Draught-board--Pagan Nations--Favourable Reports.

_Nov. 2d._--As this was the day fixed for our departure for Damerghou,
it may well be imagined that we looked forward to it with some anxiety.
Our delay in the neighbourhood of Tintalous had been unexpectedly long,
and at times even the idea had crossed our minds that we should never be
allowed to depart at all. Often we had desired to start alone; but had
been withheld by our own prudence, as well as by the representations of
our host, the venerable Sheikh of Tintalous. We had come by degrees
scarcely to believe in the possibility of an advance, and to consider
ourselves as the prisoners of circumstances in this advanced part of the
Sahara, touching on the very borders of Central Africa. Now, however, we
saw, by the bustle of preparation in the town, that, whether the
salt-caravan arrived or not, we were to press forward. All night the
town was in a bustle. We rose before sunrise, to complete