Danger
has ever hung hovering over us, sometimes averted, sometimes seeming to
be turned into smoke; but within this week the strokes of ill fortune
have fallen upon us with increasing fury. We try to persuade ourselves
that there is now nothing more to fear, and every one joins in nursing
what may be a delusion.
The marabouts indulge the vain hope that, through the influence of the
great En-Noor of Tintalous, we may yet become Muslims. It would appear
that the whole of the inhabitants of the village of Tintaghoda are
marabouts, and so the race of saints is propagated from generation to
generation. Generally, the children of the marabouts are good-looking.
It is said that some of the mischievous boys were the parties who drove
off our cattle.
In spite of all the sanctity of this place, and its reputation that it
is free from theft, En-Noor of our escort told us yesterday evening to
watch well during the night, that our things might not be stolen.
We Christians cannot trust our things here. The Sfaxee, however, leaves
his goods in the place, and will go with us to-morrow. Tintaghoda may be
a safe depot for Muslims, not for Christians.
I have omitted to notice in its proper place, but may record here, that
one of the free black females was lost for a couple of days in the
desert, and recovered after the disaster.
Whatever we have yet seen of Aheer in a geological point of view, shows
that it is essentially a region of granite rocks, between which are a
series of fine valleys, running one into another.
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