It then cleared up, and was fine all the evening.
The Es-Sfaxee, heading our servants, was determined to fire away a
little gunpowder this evening though much against my inclination. After
they had been firing near the tents, En-Noor sent for them to fire at
the doors of his house. The old Sheikh is now waxing mighty civil, and
swears that we are his _walad_ (children). We shall see what we shall
see. Yusuf even thinks he can be persuaded to sign the treaty. All the
Kailouees are very fond of powder, and also very much alarmed at it.
They say they could themselves make plenty of powder if saltpetre were
found them.
_21st._--It appears that some of the districts of Damerghou are included
within the circle of Aheer, and that the Kailouees exercise authority
there. En-Noor has a house there.
Overweg's three hypotheses of danger south of Bornou are:--
1. To be stripped of everything by robbers, and left naked in the
wilderness.
2. To be devoured by wild beasts.
3. To be forced to traverse a desert where there is no subsistence for
man or beast. Indeed, after the experience we have had up this road,
although a Tuarick road (and Tuaricks are not supposed to have a
peculiar antipathy to Christians), it will be next to suicide to proceed
far south without adequate guides and protection.
The two predominant passions of men in all these Tuarick countries,
especially Aheer, are for dress and women.
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