id of
him. Yusuf is trying the same system with me, but will probably find
that it will end in no good affair for himself. Mohammed Tunisee and
Yusuf seem hitherto to have combined to spoil all our people. The
liberated slaves from Tunis, brought up by me, have turned out the best
and most faithful servants. I am much pleased with this.

All the people of Damerghou are afflicted with ophthalmia, which is said
to arise from the winds that prevail constantly over this open and
unsheltered country. Some of the people pretend it is caused by drinking
ghaseb-water, which appears absurd enough. The Moorish and other
merchants attribute the greater part of their diseases to drinking
water,--especially the fevers. How much truth there is in this assertion
is not easy to be determined.

_11th._--It has been agreed that I and my colleagues should here part
for a time, Dr. Barth going to Kanou, and Dr. Overweg to Tesaoua and
Maradee, whilst I proceed with En-Noor direct to Zinder. Dr. Barth
promises to be in Kuka in two months; and Dr. Overweg says he will
immediately correspond, that is from Tesaoua to Zinder. The latter has
the more difficult journey before him; but even Dr. Barth's visit to
Kanou may turn out a more serious business than perhaps he anticipates.
We took leave one of the other with some emotion; for in Central Africa,
those travellers who part and take divergent routes can scarcely count
on all meeting together again.

I also here parted with Amankee, my Haussa servant. He had behaved
indifferently lately, but nevertheless, as he rendered us some service
in the acquirement of the Haussa languages, and in other matters, I made
him a present of four dollars for one extra time he had remained with
us. He had been paid his wages at Mourzuk to go with us to Zinder, but
then we expected to be only three months _en route_. In a moment, just
as we were starting, he changed his mind, and would go to his home at
once. This is his character,--levity and instability,--otherwise he is a
good fellow enough. He is one of those Tuaricks who have settled in
Haussa and forgotten their native tongue. I have been often obliged to
use harsh language to him, to curb his levity. In parting with the
servants of the Germans, I promised them each a present of six dollars
if I heard a good report of them on their arrival at Kuka. This present
is held out as an inducement because it is impossible to tell what may
happen, as the Germans w