t to Seloufeeat in fourteen days--sufficiently quick.
This courier brings a warning from Khanouhen to the caravans now
proceeding to Ghat, not to come in twos or threes, as they were wont,
but to come altogether, as he fears reprisals from the Shanbah and the
Haghar.
The history of the thing is this:--A tribe of Tuaricks has always acted
as the guides of the Shanbah in their foraging parties--on the Tuarick
territory, for example--always pointing out to them the camels of the
people of Ghat. Khanouhen has chastised this treacherous tribe,
destroying a great many of them; but the Shanbah and Haghar not choosing
to desert their old friends, have determined to take vengeance upon the
Ghat Tuaricks. It is this revenge which Khanouhen fears. He anticipates
a combined attack on the caravans. The wonder is how these routes are
kept open at all, when these distant tribes, who have no interest in the
commerce that moves along them, are notorious for their predatory
feelings and education. It is now said that the Fadeea, our friends on
the frontier, are in league with the Shanbah against the Ghat Tuaricks.
En-Noor, it appears, had sent his son to salute the new Sultan of
Aghadez, and to assist in establishing or placing him on his throne. He
got as far as Asoudee, when he fell in love with a pretty woman of the
town, and at once married her, proceeding no farther on his mission.
Yesterday evening a man arrived mounted on a maharee, bringing with him
all the finery of the bride, which he exhibited to the people, riding
about the town! All were greatly astonished at the splendour of the
bride's dowry. Are not these fit materials for an Arabian Night's
entertainment? My servant, Said, also married the other evening, but not
so romantically; taking up with the divorced wife of another freed
black. I heard nothing of it until all was over. The parties guessed
rightly that I should take no interest in the matter, or rather
disapprove of it, as the fellow has abandoned his own and natural wife.
This divorced negress, who has at last found a master, has gone the
round of all the tents since she has parted from her former husband, and
is a little intriguing wretch. The Sfaxee and Yusuf countenanced the
affair, but kept it quite unknown to me. They, however, fetched Overweg,
and presented him with a portion of the marriage-supper--bazeen. I felt
much disgusted on hearing of the affair. The old wife is a native of
Kanemboo, and is going
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