nt of the slave caravan, which is
going in a few days to Ghat. A native of that place--the chief,
indeed--was exceedingly rude at our first rencounter, and the following
dialogue took place:--

_The Ghatee._ Where are you going?

_Myself._ I am going to Sakkatou.

_The Ghatee._ What for?

_Myself._ To see the Sultan, who is my friend.

_The Ghatee._ How do you know him?

_Myself._ The English have known him for years past.

_The Ghatee._ Ah!

_Myself._ Yes.

_The Ghatee._ Have you any dollars--large dollars? (making a large
circle with his thumb and forefinger.)

_Myself._ No: I don't carry money to Soudan, which is of no use to me.
There I shall have wada.

_Ghatee._ Eh! Eh! But cannot you give me a turban?

_Myself._ No, I am not a merchant, I don't bring such things; go to the
Arab merchants and buy.

_Ghatee._ Um! Um!

_Myself._ Do you know Mohammed Kafa in Ghat?

_Ghatee._ Oh, yes!

_Myself._ He is my friend.

_Ghatee._ Allah!

_Myself._ Yes; he sent me a fine dinner twice whilst I was in Ghat.

_Ghatee._ Allah! Allah!

_Myself._ Do you know Haj Ibrahim? He is my great friend.

_Ghatee._ Allah! Allah! (greatly surprised).

_Myself._ Why, how is it that you do not know me, Yakob, as I have
been in Ghat many years before?

At this some of the other people of the caravan cried out, "Yes, yes, we
all know Yakob;" so that I left the rude slave-merchant quite
crest-fallen. He evidently, at first, wished to assume the airs of a
Haghar, and bully me out of a present.

The caravan consisted of some thirty poor young women and children.
There was also with them a small quantity of elephants' teeth.

Now that the moon is absent and the nights are clear we have a most
splendid view of the heavens, its stars and constellations. The number
of meteors darting to and fro overhead is very great--nearly one a
minute shoots along. Some are only a faint glimmer, and have but the
existence of a moment, whilst others are very beautiful and last several
seconds.

_5th._--The weather is improving; the strong gusts of wind have ceased,
and so has the rain. We have now calm and fine days with moderate heat.

In the afternoon I received another visit from En-Noor, who came
straight into my tent, like an old friend whom I had known for twenty
years. He stopped with me at least an hour, drinking tea and smoking,
chatting the while about his past history and present affairs. He
reiterated again assurances o