I found that the Germans and the Tanelkums had gone on in
advance some days, but not so fast that we could not hope to overtake
them. The hurry and bustle attendant on the preparations for starting
has rendered me rather indisposed; I was quite unwell on the 27th. Next
day, however, I could receive Hateetah and the son of Shafou, and have a
civil row with them. I had to ask them whether they would travel by
night, and what they would agree to do if any one fell sick. To the
first question they promptly answered "No, they would not;" but to the
second, that in case any one was very ill indeed, they would wait a
little for him, or travel in the night. I said that this was not exactly
what I wanted, and that in case of sickness the expedition must be
stopped. They recommended me to go to Ghat, and there remain twenty days
until the great heat had passed, allowing the Tanelkums to go on. This
advice is worth reflection: but perhaps we may not suffer so much from
the heat as I anticipate. We came to a tolerable understanding, and it
was at length agreed that we should start on the 29th.
The weather is now cool, the wind often blowing _round_ in the course of
the day; it rarely blows _through_, as at sea. On the way from Mourzuk
we had hot and cold blasts together; but now we are out in the desert,
we find the climate much more temperate than in the city. I hope and
pray that I shall be able to bear up against the heat.
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