His shoes were the common Soudan sandals; and thus, with
a long wand, or a white stick, he proceeded with a slow-measured pace
through the streets of the town. A dependant followed the Sultan at a
short distance, but the absence of an escort proclaimed how deep-rooted
was his authority.
To-day, for the first time, En-Noor sent to buy something of us, viz. a
loaf of white sugar. As Overweg is going to Asoudee under the protection
of En-Noor, I gave him the loaf of sugar, and told him to send it, on
his part, as a present to the Sheikh, and at the same time to ask him to
get his escort ready.
The Fezzanees call the Milky Way, which appears at this season nearly
overhead early in the evening, "the road of the dates," it being now the
time in which the dates ripen.
Late in the evening a troop of twenty maharees came riding straight up
to our tents. Although none of our people were gone to bed, although all
were up and about talking, not a single person saw them coming but
myself; and I only saw--none of us heard, so noiselessly did they steal
over the sand. This troop merely came in to bait for the night. They,
however, brought some person with them who is about to be married to a
woman of Tintalous.
_27th._--I rose early, having slept little on account of noises of
various sorts, which continued all night long. First, there was a drum
perpetually beating, announcing rudely enough the approaching nuptials;
then there was a cricket singing shrill notes at my head; and then there
was the screech-owl making the valley of Tintalous ring again with its
hideous shriek.
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