This increase of our provisions turns out to
be opportune. Without it, some of our animals might have fallen down.
Round and near Ghat we found the stones which are set up at certain
intervals to mark the direction of the roads, frequently arranged in
circular heaps. An usual form is pyramidal, but the most common practice
of all is to set up one stone end-ways upon one or two others. Sometimes
a hundred of these will be seen together.
We have had some trouble in satisfying the Kailouees for the protection
they afford us. At Ghat the agreement made was for one hundred reals,
half in goods and half in money, and a trifling present when they
arrived at their journey's end. This was arranged by Haj Ibrahim and
Mohammed Kafa, a merchant of Ghat, and consul or wakeel of the
Kailouees, whom I have before mentioned. Immediately that they became a
little familiar with us, they began to say that they had not received
all the hundred reals; but on hearing that we should write to Ghat about
it, they dropped this plea, and asked for another hundred reals as the
present promised them, as they pretended, through Haj Ibrahim. When the
news came respecting Sidi Jafel--taking advantage of our supposed
fears--they boldly demanded a sword, some burnouses, and one hundred
reals in money.
All these demands I firmly resisted as long as I could; but at length,
when a compromise seemed necessary, we arranged for a hundred reals more
in goods.
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