army. They intimate that a portion of the spoil will be sent with
us to the great Sheikh of Bornou: so that after all, however unwilling,
we shall seem to countenance this bloody work.

_26th, Sunday._--We have still to remain here another week at least, so
I must make what use I can of the time of this delay, caused by the
nefarious razzia, now in course of operation. In the extravagant manner
that this government of Zinder conducts its affairs, it can only support
itself by periodical expeditions of this kind. There is one Fez merchant
here, to whom the Sarkee owes four millions of wadas, or about two
thousand reals of Fezzan; and other creditors claim in a like
proportion. Now, indeed, we begin to understand how the slave-markets of
quasi-civilised countries are supplied by the surplus produce of these
expeditions.

The route from Aghadez to the country of Sidi Hashem, now governed by
his son, is three days' journey, and from the country of Sidi Hashem to
Wadnoun, three days: there is also a route of five days, a little more
direct; and the route direct from Aghadez to Wadnoun is four days'
journey.

The story of the Tibboo is going the round of the town, and becoming the
daily gossip. This story has now assumed a substantial historical shape.
The facts are, as I have already intimated, that the Tibboo persecuted
me to give him a medicine to enable him to trade with profit. I
scribbled over a bit of paper, cut in the shape of a dollar, the number
10,000 dollars, and told him to swallow it, and afterwards to bring it
me in the same state. The price for this was a fowl. He swallowed the
paper, and went off to get the fowl. Not succeeding in the souk, he went
to the Shereef Kebir, and requested him to give him a fowl for a sick
person. The Shereef gave him what he asked, and the Tibboo brought it to
me. This story since has been greatly embellished at the expense of the
Tibboo, and affords infinite amusement to the Moorish and Arabic
merchants of Zinder.

I have just noticed some sable ladies, with their hair all twisted into
three or four great points--vain attempts at curls. The back parts are
all covered with a paste of indigo. The hair is well dressed, and free
from any woolly appearance.

Yesterday the Sheikh Lousou paid me a visit. I presented him with a loaf
of sugar, and a cotton handkerchief. He received them with manifest
pleasure, and promised to write a letter to the Queen, that, in the
event of other