To the old bandit of Ghadamez I also presented some tobacco, and he went
his way. Fortunately there were few Tuaricks in Ghat at this time,
otherwise I should have had hosts of such visitors. The absence of these
grasping chiefs has interfered, it is true, with the treaty of commerce;
but it is possible, that even had Khanouhen been present some other
shift would have been discovered. There are now present in Ghat only the
Sheikh Jabour, Waled Shafou, Sheikh Hateetah, Sheikh Ouweek, and Haj
Ahmed, the governor of the town. The Sultan Shafou himself is on the
road to Soudan, and we shall probably meet him in a few days on our way.
I have, however, sent this aged chieftain a handsome sword from the
English Government, by his son, to whom I gave it in one of the public
meetings.
With reference to the treaty, it may, perhaps, be considered in a fair
way to be finally accepted. At the winter souk every person of influence
and authority in the country will be present, and in the form in which I
have presented it, I believe it will provoke little or no opposition.
The clauses with reference to religion and the slave-trade have, of
course, been left out; the first as unnecessary, the second as dangerous
at this early stage of our proceedings. Even already it may be said that
the market at Ghat may safely be visited by British merchants; for
although Hateetah may require heavy presents, he will certainly protect
them.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193