The
latter prophecy seems likely to turn out true.
There is not much herbage about where we are, so we are obliged to send
away the camels some distance to feed. It appears to be only the
beginning of the rainy season in Tintalous. We have passed through much
finer districts in Aheer than this; e.g. that of Taghajeet, where we
observed fat women and fat sheep! But we have not yet seen the
enormously fat women that Mr. Gagliuffi described. This, of course,
would always be difficult for us, except in our capacities as
physicians. Dr. Overweg has the best chance of this piece of good luck.
_5th._--We are much troubled with a nephew of En-Noor, the same that
acted as the courier from Seloufeeat to Tintalous. We gave him a white
burnouse, and he is worrying Yusuf to let him have a finer and better
one. This individual has given us more trouble than anything else in
Tintalous. Little things here, as elsewhere, prove more annoying than
great things. To set matters straight, we have offered him a better
burnouse, but he is not yet content.
The Tanelkums are also very troublesome. I always saw that we must
beware of them, for they will never let us rest, if they can help it,
whilst they are with us. Beg, beg, beg; this alone describes their
conduct towards us.
All the people we have had about us seem to have considered us their
lawful prey, and seek to gain their ends, if not by violence, at least
by continual importunities: still it must be acknowledged that the
Tanelkums rendered us considerable service on the road.
Pages:
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288