Our
boat is still at Seloufeeat. Yusuf is gone to see En-Noor.
Naturally I feel very much annoyed about the missing camels. They were
stolen, it seems, not only in the middle of the day, but at a distance
of not more than a quarter of a mile from the residence of En-Noor! This
is too bad, really too bad. Are we never to have any repose?
In the evening, as a slight consolation, we were fortunate enough to
purchase some provisions. The German got two goats, and I some samen. I
also borrowed ghaseb until we could buy.
_6th._--I got up in better health this morning, and felt the benefit of
the goats'-flesh broth. I observe that it does not rain during the
night; the showers come on generally in the afternoon. The mornings are
dry, fine, and hot. This morning, at half-past seven A.M., the
thermometer stood under the tent at 79 deg. Fahr.
The Tanelkums, by the way, left us yesterday evening. They all return in
the course of fifteen days; some of them go on to Zinder, and others
make their way back to Mourzuk. Haj Omer quarrelled desperately with
Yusuf before he started.
I may here make a few observations on these curious people. Generally,
the Tanelkums are reckoned amongst the most effeminate and civilised of
the Tuaricks of the north; and, indeed, such appears to be their
character, as developed in our transactions with them. Some of them have
more the manners of merchants than camel-drivers; and the mercantile
character always tames men in the desert.
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