Every Tuarick,
however, is in some sort a chief, and more or less influence is acquired
by age or personal qualities. The principal men have divided the sources
of emolument which the peculiar position of their country supplies them
with. Hateetah claims to afford protection to all private English
travellers, and to receive presents from them; another patronises the
inhabitants of Tripoli, a third those of Soudan, and so on. This
arrangement enables a visitor to the place to calculate with some
certainty about the amount of obligation he incurs. All the Tuaricks are
easily distinguished by their habit of wearing a litham, or muffler,
with which they conceal their mouths and all the lower part of their
face. This custom gives them a strangely mysterious appearance.
The house of Haj Ahmed, the governor, to which we were conducted, is
situated three parts of a mile from the town, which I did not enter
during my stay. It would not have done to expose myself to the familiar
impudence of the people, who had known me during my visit under very
different circumstances. Besides, my time was fully taken up with
business matters; so fully, that I scarcely had time even to write one
or two brief despatches to Government.
On the morning of our arrival at Ghat all seemed to promise well. The
Governor welcomed us with hospitality, and his slaves unloaded our
camels, and quickly conducted us to our apartments.
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