Part 26 (2/2)

[72] I speak on the authority of Mr. Gagliuffi, our Vice-Consul at Mourzuk.

[73] And even those who take an oath of _et ceteras_ at the National Universities! And others who subscribe to creeds which they do not read, or if read them, do not comprehend them.

[74] That is, being on friendly terms with you.

[75] See Surat ii., int.i.tled ”The Cow.”

CHAPTER XVII.

RESIDENCE IN GHAT.

Gloves an enigma of Wonder.--Visit Sheikh Hateetah.--All Men equal at Ghat.--Crowds of People surrounding my House to see me.--Violent Act committed on a Man at Prayer in the Mosque.--Extent of European Literature known at Ghat.--Continue unwell.--Ouweek's public Apology.--Dances of the Slaves.--A Saharan _Emeute_.--Arrival of Caravans.--Return the Visit of the Governor.--Europe, a cl.u.s.ter of innumerable Islets.--Who has most Money, Christians or Mahometans?--People more used to my presence in Ghat.--The Prophet of the Touaricks.--Visit from Aheer Touaricks.--The Governor's petty dealing.--The Shereef of Moorzuk.--Visit from Jabour.--Beginning Soudanic Cottons.--Visits from Kandarka and Zolea.--Route from Ghat to Alexandria, and its distance.--The Shereef of Medina.--Character and influence of Khanouhen, heir-apparent of the Touarghee Throne of the Azgher Touaricks, and his arrival in Ghat.

_22nd._--HAVE considerable pain in my stomach with change of diet. Did not go out yesterday and the day before in the day-time, on account of the rabble who follow so close at my heels, that my guides and protectors can't keep them off. Sent a _shumlah_ (”sash”) to Haj Ahmed, the Governor, this morning. He expressed himself highly gratified. This makes the Governor's present about five dollars more than he gets from any of the merchants. The richest and most powerful merchants don't give more, and some of them not half this amount. I have already given away 20 dollars out of my extremely modest resources.

Nothing surprises the natives of Ghat and the Touaricks so much as my gloves. I am obliged to put them off and on a hundred times a day to please people. They then try them on, look at them inside and outside, in every shape and way, expressing their utter astonishment by the most sacred names of Deity. Some, also, have not seen stockings before, and examine them with much wonderment. But the gloves carry the palm in exciting the emotion of the terrible. One said, after he had put the glove on his hand, ”Ah! ah! Whey! whoo! that's the hand of the Devil himself!”

The _Souk_ or mart has now fairly begun. Merchants are desperately busy buying and selling, chiefly exchanging goods against slaves. All complain of the dearness of slaves.

Afternoon visited Sheikh Hateetah, ”Friend” or ”Consul” of the English.

Found him still unwell; he complains of pain in his bowels. This is the case with most people in Ghat, myself amongst the rest. It cannot be the water, for it is the purest and sweetest of The Desert. Prescribed a little medicine for the Sheikh, who promises to introduce me to Sultan Shafou when he arrives. Returned by another route, and in this manner made the tour of the town. Half an hour is fully enough to walk round the mere walls of the city, but then there are considerable suburbs, consisting of huts and stone and mud houses. At the Sheikh's I met a merchant just returned from Kanou; I put some questions to him, who, thinking I wished to have every one answered in the affirmative, gave me his terrible ”yahs” and ”aywahs” to all and everything demanded.

”Are there many people ill in Kanou?”

”Yes, many.”

”Is the route to Kanou unsafe?”

”Yes.”

”Are there banditti in route?”

”Yes.”

”Is it hot in Kanou?”

”Very hot, very hot.”

”Is there fever in Kanou?”

”Yes, always.”

This I thought was good news. I fear we often get incorrect intelligence from these people, through their anxiety to answer all our questions in the affirmative, they not understanding that we put the questions to them simply to gain information.

All men are indeed equal here, as saith the Governor. There seems to be no ruling authority, and every one does what is right in his own eyes.

Yesterday, although the Governor knew that some of his slaves or other people had stolen my sugar, he never condescended to mention the circ.u.mstance, by speaking to his eldest son about the theft; he said absurdly enough, ”Oh, if we knew the thief, we would put him to death.”

On protesting against such punishment for the offence, he rejoined, ”Oh, but we would cut off his hand.” This is all stuff, and a proof of the weakness of the Governor's authority. Happily, however, there's no crime worth naming in the oasis.

Am obliged to keep the door shut to prevent people from rus.h.i.+ng into the house by twenties and fifties at once. The Governor has sent strict orders to his slaves to keep the door shut, first, to prevent me from being pestered to death all day long, and, secondly, because some of the people have got the habit here, as in Europe, of picking up little things. A young slave is crying out, ”Bago! bago!” every five minutes, in answer to knocking at the door to see The Christian, which we interpret in European phrase more politely, ”Not at home,” but which signifieth in the original Housa, ”No, no.” However, a troop of the lower cla.s.s of Touaricks managed to squeeze in as some of our people went out, but I got rid of them without angry words.

<script>