All the domestic animals
of the country are from the same place--the horses, bullocks used to
draw the water from the wells, as well as the sheep and asses. Ghat,
indeed, is within the circle of Soudan influence; the people dress in
Soudan clothes; eat off Soudan utensils; and mingle a great deal of the
Soudan language with their Tuarick dialect. We feel, therefore, as if we
were now going towards a centre instead of from a centre. Mourzuk, on
the contrary, holds itself in connexion with the Arabs of the coast; and
seems to receive no influence from the interior except by means of the
Tibboos, who form a kind of connecting link. There is a considerable
sprinkling of this curious people in the lower portions of the
population of Mourzuk, and there are always some genuine specimens to be
met with in the streets. It may be said, however, that both the capital
of Fezzan and Ghat itself seem rendezvous from all parts of Africa; and
I imagine, that in all the souk (market) cities of the interior the same
fact will be observed. However, it will remain true, no doubt, that
south of Ghat the influence of Soudan will be far more sensibly marked
than on the other side.
The son of Shafou, Mahommed Wataitee, who seems to have made up his mind
to shirk the journey to Aheer, left us this morning to go to Aroukeen
and meet his father, who is encamped with his flocks and dependants
around that well.
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