Such are
the people we travel with. In regard to the matter of presents, God give
me patience with them.
_30th._--There is no answer from En-Noor, nor are our camels
forthcoming; which things naturally cause us anxiety. But let us hope
for the best, and pray to God to deliver us from all our misfortunes.
We wait here to-day to see the results, and proceed to-morrow. This
morning I made the account of the forced passage of the expedition from
Taghajeet to this place (Marabouteen). It amounts to the enormous sum of
nine hundred mahboubs--more than one hundred and fifty pounds sterling!
I do not know what Government will think of it; but the expenditure
incurred was certainly to save our lives.
I gave this morning more presents to our servants, and lectured them on
their duties. All things considered, they have behaved very well. When
they saw the great quantity of goods given away or forced from us by
strangers, they naturally began to think what there would be left for
them, who always remained with us, and worked for us.
The being chief of an expedition of this kind is certainly no sinecure;
but I am sure that no one who has not occupied a similar post can
conceive the anxieties and disquietudes under which I have laboured
during all these difficult days. Almost ever since our departure from
Ghat we have been in fear, either for our lives or our property.
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