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Sidi Jafel Waled Sakertaf whose voluminous name we found it quite easy to learn under these circumstances is cousin of the Sultan Shafou, and a very old man; but we cannot hope that in these frugal regions the gout will interfere in our favour, and put a stop to this unprovoked foray. The weather has been cool to-day.
Barth lost again Meet our Guides The Akourou Water Ghadeer Soudan Influence on the Tuaricks Wataitee leaves us Oasis of Janet Kailouee Character A sick Slave Rocky Desert Gloomy Scene Servants Egheree Water Ajunjer A threatened Foray from Janet Sidi Jafel Waled Sakertaf We have no Money Region of Granite Dr.
We had halted the previous evening because we were within an hour of the well of Tajetterat, which had become famous in our caravan as the place where we were to be attacked and despoiled by the freebooter Sidi Jafel Waled Sakertaf. This morning we pursued our way, cautiously sending scouts before.
When the news came respecting Sidi Jafel taking advantage of our supposed fears they boldly demanded a sword, some burnouses, and one hundred reals in money. All these demands I firmly resisted as long as I could; but at length, when a compromise seemed necessary, we arranged for a hundred reals more in goods. A part we have given here, and the rest we have promised on our arrival at Aheer.
News of Sidi Jafel Disputes with Wataitee His violent Conduct and strange Language The Desert Scarcity of Money Proceed through a rocky Country Soudan Weather Approach the Frontiers of Aheer Storm Hard Day's Travelling The Seven Wells of Aisou "The Haghar are coming" Suspicious Characters Alarm The Three Strangers Our Hospitality Heat of the Weather Hard Travelling Account of the Kailouee Guides Women of the Caravan Their Treatment Youthful Concubines Another long Day A Rock-Altar Demonstrations of the Haghar Wells of Jeenanee Marks of Rain Sprightly Blacks New Climate Change in the Vegetation and the Atmosphere.
All the inhabitants of Ghanet are Maghata, or descendants of the children of the Tuaricks, Haghar and Azgher, which were born to them by their slaves. It is these Maghata who were said to be in pursuit of us under Sidi Jafel. There are many of the same people in the open desert, for the most part bandits, or at least inclined to that way of life.
Now comes something to awaken us out of this dream of comfort. A courier has arrived from Ghât, bringing the news that one Sidi Jafel Waled Sakertaf, the great man of the oasis of Janet on which we have been speculating so pastorally is preparing to come out and intercept our passage to Soudan, near the well of Tajetterat.
However, it looked very like truth; and, possibly, Sidi Jafel may know perfectly well that there is no occasion to hurry. The Tanelkums are now about four days in advance of us, and may receive the first brunt of the attack. These slave-dealers tell us, that from Falezlez to the place where we are to be robbed and murdered is four days of dismal desert, without water suffering before sacrifice.
Of course there was no other subject of conversation than the robbers, of whose existence our fears made us certain. Were they, after all, led by that Sidi Jafel, of whom rumour had lately become so complimentary? Whence did these encouraging accounts come? Were they circulated by persons interested in putting us off our guard?
We have at length heard what appears to be a fair account of the rumour respecting that terrible Sidi Jafel. He did leave Janet as if bound for Tajetterat; but it was for the purpose of giving his camels a feeding of herbage in that direction. He took his family and tents with him, and has been seen with his son by the huntsman of Wady Aroukeen.
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