y are unknown!

_21st._--A foggy _November_ morning! But this change of the atmosphere
is very rare, and soon passes away. It is amazing how steady the seasons
are, and how they roll, each bringing its accustomed weather and tunes.

Yesterday I began my Bornou studies, not knowing whether I shall go
first to Bornou or Soudan. I intend, if my health be preserved, to make
a dictionary of the Bornou and Soudan languages together, for the sake
of commerce and general information. I hope Government will print it, or
if not Government, the Philological Society.

_Abizgen_ is a fruit which abounds in Aheer. It is half the size of
small currants, and has not a disagreeable taste--a sort of bitter-sweet
clammy taste. This fruit may be called Aheer currants.

In the neighbourhood of our encampment have been seen gazelles,
ostriches, and monkeys, in considerable numbers.

_22d._--En-Noor went off yesterday morning early, to visit a great
marabout in the neighbourhood. This will enable us to apply ourselves
closely to the languages, all day long. Occupied as I am with Soudanese
and Bornouese, all the days fly away swifter than arrows shot by the
most expert archers. En-Noor is expected to return in the course of four
or five days. We have now all the village of Tintalous with us. It is
Tintalous encamped out in the valley.

_23d._--The orient sky flamed this morning with a pure yellow flame,
amidst a somewhat murky atmosphere.

Most of the people have a fire all night. In the morning they cower over
it like inhabitants of the poles. Of course we as well as they, having
been baked in the summer's sun, now feel the cold most acutely.

There is a species of people scattered through Soudan which correspond
to our gipsies, called Maguzawa (sing. Bamaguzai). These are
essentially a merry, care-nothing people, always half tipsy, and always
full of fun. They, however, work a little in agriculture; differing from
our gipsies, who are little more than itinerant tinkers. A boy was shown
to me to-day, whom his parents had christened _Butu_, "worthless." It is
related that his mother had many children before him, all of whom died,
and when he came into the world the people or neighbours all cried,
"_Butu! Butu!_" i.e. "He will come to nothing." Then, it is added, "God
seeing the people gave him a bad name, determined in compassion to
preserve his life, and so his life was preserved to this day."

En-Noor returned this evening from his