But our guides, who
knew the habits of the desert, did not think it beneath their dignity to
be alarmed, nor to look anxiously about to the right and to the left, as
if every stone concealed an enemy, every ravine an ambush.
By the way, it may be as well to mention here, that the reader may know
how to call the enemies we feared, that although vulgarly the whole race
that inhabits between the borders of Fezzan and Timbuctoo are called
Haghar, the Tuaricks of Ghat are properly distinguished as Azgher; and
those located towards Tuat and the Joliba, Haghar. Had they and their
party been of generally predatory dispositions, they would have had
something to occupy them--the caravan belonging to Haj Ibrahim coming
from Soudan. We should, perhaps, be uncharitable enough to hope that
precious time might be occupied in plundering these good people, were we
not certain that, if we are really to be attacked, it is because of the
presence of Christians. Will our guides peril life or limb to preserve
from danger people whose tenets they abhor?
_19th._--The three men, supposed scouts or spies, remained with us
during the night. At first, it was proposed to push on, and get as far
as possible away from danger; but as our unbidden guests made a great
oath that they did not know that there were foreigners in the caravan,
and that they only wanted a supper, having had nothing to eat for
fifteen days, we determined to carry out our original intention, both
for the sake of our camels and ourselves.
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