They begged me to leave the treaty with them, and promised
faithfully in the assembly of all the Sheikhs, in the winter, to do
their best to gratify the wishes of the British Government. They also
undertook to write private letters themselves, especially Hateetah. Haj
Ibrahim, to whom I presented a watch worth twenty dollars, also promised
to render me all his assistance and influence with the Sheikhs, and to
be my wakeel (agent) in my absence. Jabour paid me a farewell visit, and
after he received his present was very polite and jocular. Yusuf Moknee,
as a Tripoline, also paid him six reals; for he is the official
protector of people from that city, as well as some others. The day
before, one of his people had seized my Fezzanee servant because he did
not give the usual presents, viz. a barracan and common fez. He was put
to "working in water," as they call it; that is, to assist in irrigating
one of the gardens. After a short time, however, they allowed him to
return to me. Such are the Tuaricks--grasping, violent, and capricious!
I cannot, however, until I see the fate of the treaty, completely decide
upon the conduct of Hateetah and the body of Sheikhs generally.
Mahommed Kafa was one of our best friends at Ghat, and had always a
smile to greet us with--a great relief in a country where most of the
people you meet have a frown on their brows and their mouths closely
muffled up.
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