beasts was too
wise to be caught. En-Noor borrowed a gun of us to make this trap, which
was of the following description. It was expected that the lion would
come again to the carcase of the camel; so a hedge of thorns was made
round the carcase with one opening, where was placed the muzzle of the
gun, with a large piece of meat tied to the trigger, so that when he
seized the meat he might fire off the deadly weapon against himself.

This is a fine place for doves, and Overweg shot half a dozen to-day.
Our Tanelkum, Mousa, informs us of the right way of tending camels. They
ought never to be tied, but allowed to roam at large. They require also
to be led through the best valleys, being so far helpless in finding a
good grazing-place for themselves. He showed us his camels, comparing
them with ours. And certainly ours, which had their legs tied and were
not guided to good herbage, could not bear comparison. But, of course,
the business, the support, the riches of Mousa, are his camels. They
occupy all his thoughts, and would appear, to a stranger, to be the end
of his existence.

_6th._--This morning at sunrise the thermometer was as low as 52 deg.
Fahrenheit. We shivered with cold.

Dr. Barth arrived early by way of Tintalous. He confirms the news that
the Sultans of Aghadez and Asoudee have completely chastised all those
tribes who stopped us on the road and levied black mail on us.

En-Noor paid us a visit in the morning. After shaking us all in a very
friendly manner by the hands, he expressed his regret that he could not
go with us now to Zinder. The country was not tranquil, and the people
would not consent to his going; but if we wished to proceed immediately
with his principal slave, Zangheema, he assured us we should go safely.
He then left us to reflect upon what we would do. We decided, without a
dissentient voice, that we could not venture to go with Zangheema, and
that we must wait for En-Noor, be the time ever so long. We forwarded
this decision to his highness, who seemed to receive it with
satisfaction. His wife sent us word, "To be sure not to go without her
husband;" a piece of advice from a lady we are anxious most religiously
to respect. Dr. Overweg made an application, through Daubala and Yusuf,
to go to the salt-mines of Bilma with the Kailouees. But either the
applicants betrayed the thing, or En-Noor was unwilling to grant
permission. Our friend, therefore, is disappointed of this most
interes