We felt our case to be rather hard, especially the Germans; for they had
nothing of their own to eat but dry kuskusou and onions. I was a little
better off. We could get nothing from the town during the day, not even
a fowl or eggs, nor even a bit of cheese.
Nevertheless, we had been told that everything was abundant in this
place. It appears all the sheep are at a distance, out to graze; as for
bullocks, there are none. Dr. Overweg drew out his bottle of port wine,
and we three Europeans soon made an end of that, and retired for the
night in pretty good spirits.
Dr. Overweg and Yusuf calculated the number of people who were reported
to be in pursuit of us from Tajetterat to the Marabouteen, at three
hundred and sixty. The passage of the expedition from Tajetterat to
Tintalous has cost the Government about one hundred and fifty pounds
sterling, at the least. I cannot get over this. However, let us raise
our hearts in thankfulness to Almighty Providence, who still watches
over us, preserves our health, and saves us from destruction.
CHAPTER XVI.
Promises of the Sultan--Yellow-painted
Women--Presents--Anecdotes--Prepare to visit En-Noor--Our
Reception--Dialogue--Seeming Liberality of the Sultan--Greediness of his
People--No Provisions to be got--Fat Women--Nephew of the
Sultan--Tanelkum Beggars--Weather--A Divorced Lady--Aheer Money--Our
Camels again stolen--Account of the Tanelkums--Huckster Women--Aheer
Landscape--Various Causes of Annoyance--No News of the Camels--Anecdote
of my Servants--Storms--Revolution in the Desert--Name of the
Country--Dr.
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