Merchant Waldee came again this evening, and gave us increased
encouragement not to be afraid.
The more we saw of this man the better we liked him. He brought for us,
also, the favourable news that the Sheikh of Bornou was on good terms
with his neighbours, the people of Wadai and Darfour. I shall endeavour
to return _via_ these countries to the Mediterranean, if possible. Our
people fired again to-night. In the evening I presented Boro of Aghadez
with a fine burnouse, and his son with a shasheeah and a fateh. I gave a
fateh also to one of his relations, who is travelling with him. He was
highly pleased with the gift, and expressed his pleasure in many
compliments. Of giving gifts there is no end; but this is the time, or
never, when they will be useful.
_23d._--Before we started, another fellow came riding up from the
rumoured troop of bandits, and demanded of our escort that they should
give us into their hands. Boro remembered his present, and expressed his
gratitude by resenting this insolence with a perfect shower of abuse.
We advanced nine hours this day, looking behind us as we moved. Our
course lay through a rocky country, and two or three fine valleys,
distinguished chiefly by the immense size of the tholukh-trees. In the
afternoon a large valley opened, amidst a mountainous region; after
traversing which, we pitched tent in a small open space surrounded with
hills, with a snug valley of hasheesh near at hand.
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