In the evening we moved out of the valley, and encamped on the high
ground. The rain continued to incommode us. The things of the Germans
were all wet--I managed to keep mine dry; but our sense of security now
kept up our spirits.
Towards the evening the whole male population came out of the town to
see the ravages of water, and learn how we fared. There might be fifty
persons, men and boys. These marabouts pretend that when they first saw
the escort of En-Noor, they thought it was an enemy come to attack us
whilst isolated by the floods of rain.
They said there were some hundred bandits and other lawless men
collected behind the rocks, waiting for us, but on seeing the escort of
En-Noor they had retired by small numbers. Certainly there may have been
some twenty or thirty such people, and, undoubtedly, the escort of
En-Noor produced a salutary effect upon these brigands, as well as upon
the holy maraboutee population who drove away our camels.
When at the Marabouteen, as Tintaghoda is called, a very fine
gold-embroidered waistcoat was brought by the escort of En-Noor to me,
to ask what it was worth. I guessed about two hundred reals; Yusuf
thought the same. It appeared that this waistcoat was the property of
Abd-el-Galeel, and was taken as plunder during the last expedition of
the Kailouees against the Walad Suleiman. There are several slaves also
at Seloufeeat, who once were the property of these Arabs.
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