" The man who has a right to this tribute from freed blacks is
now absent from Ghat, and any claim ought to be made in his name by his
representatives. When the Governor heard of this affair, he sent to tell
us "to arrange the matter, and give something to these dogs of
Tuaricks;" at the same time expressing his sorrow for such a shameful
demand: and shameful it was, because we had already paid for ourselves
and our servants three hundred reals. Besides this sum, Hateetah and
Waled Shafou had each of them received a present of about a hundred
mahboubs. Finally my friend, Haj Ibrahim, the merchant, undertook to
arrange this business, and paid on our account twenty-eight reals more
for our servants.
On the morning of the 20th there was another general meeting, and I
presented the treaty for consideration. A long discussion followed, but
I at first misunderstood the conclusion to which the Sheikhs came.
However, the following day we had a regular debate, the result of which
was that the Sheikhs and heads of the town declared they could not come
to a final arrangement until the winter souk (market), when all the
notables would be assembled.
A great deal of unpleasant discussion occurred during all these
meetings, and I had to fight my way step by step. The Shereef was first
on my side, but as I had promised him a present only if the treaty were
signed, and as he saw that this would not take place, he turned round
and became my active enemy.
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