I afterwards proceeded to the encampment of the slave caravan, which is going in a few days to Ghât. A native of that place--the chief, indeed--was exceedingly rude at our first rencounter, and the following dialogue took place:--
_Myself._ To see the Sultan, who is my friend.
_Myself._ The English have known him for years past.
_The Ghâtee._ Have you any dollars--large dollars? (making a large circle with his thumb and forefinger.)
_Myself._ No: I don't carry money to Soudan, which is of no use to me. There I shall have wadâ.
_Ghâtee._ Eh! Eh! But cannot you give me a turban?
_Myself._ No, I am not a merchant, I don't bring such things; go to the Arab merchants and buy.
_Myself._ Do you know Mohammed Kafa in Ghât?
_Myself._ Yes; he sent me a fine dinner twice whilst I was in Ghât.
_Myself._ Do you know Haj Ibrahim? He is my great friend.
_Ghâtee._ Allah! Allah! (greatly surprised).
_Myself._ Why, how is it that you do not know me, Yakob, as I have been in Ghât many years before?
At this some of the other people of the caravan cried out, "Yes, yes, we all know Yakob;" so that I left the rude slave-merchant quite crest-fallen. He evidently, at first, wished to assume the airs of a Haghar, and bully me out of a present.
The caravan consisted of some thirty poor young women and children. There was also with them a small quantity of elephants' teeth.
Now that the moon is absent and the nights are clear we have a most splendid view of the heavens, its stars and constellations. The number of meteors darting to and fro overhead is very great--nearly one a minute shoots along. Some are only a faint glimmer, and have but the existence of a moment, whilst others are very beautiful and last several seconds.
_5th._--The weather is improving; the strong gusts of wind have ceased, and so has the rain. We have now calm and fine days with moderate heat.
In the afternoon I received another visit from En-Noor, who came straight into my tent, like an old friend whom I had known for twenty years. He stopped with me at least an hour, drinking tea and smoking, chatting the while about his past history and present affairs. He reiterated again assurances of his friendship for the English, and his determination to remain the ally of the Queen of England! He referred to the time when the great Bello, sultan of Sakkatou, sent his ambassador to request him (En-Noor) and all his people to subject themselves to the Fellatahs. En-Noor gave him for answer, "I am under God, the servant of God, and shall not submit myself to you or to any one upon earth. My father, and grandfather, and great-grandfather, and all my ancestors, ruled here, and were the servants of God, and I shall follow in their steps." The Fellatahs then tried to seduce the people, but they all said, "We have one Sultan, that is En-Noor." All the other authorities of Aheer followed the example, and preserved their independence, the people everywhere arming themselves with whatever weapons they had in case a war should break out.