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Whilst we were parleying with them, a troop of about forty men, mounted on their fleet maharees, and equipped for war with spears, shields, and swords, came trotting rapidly over the hills, hallooing with wild cries, and challenging our caravan to battle.
Two or three mounted on saddled Maharees accompanied the caravan a day's journey. I have many offers of the people, as in The Mountains, to accompany me to Ghat: a strange infatuation for such rigid Moslems as the Ghadamseeah!
Our people occasionally mount the maharees, which look very haughty and imposing. A maharee would be a noble present for the Sultan of the Touaricks to send to the Queen. I find there is a vague notion amongst our ghafalah that Tripoli is either really the property of the English, or under the immediate protection of England. "Just the same," say the people.
When the tumult was a little calmed, I learned that two of our people, who had remained behind a short time at the wells of Aisou, saw a Tuarick coming up to the place, and, two others slowly following, all three mounted on tall maharees. They spoke to the one who arrived first, and inquired if many were behind. To this they received a laconic answer, "Yes."
Leave Seloufeeat "City of Marabouts" Fair Promises People of Aheer Aspect of the Country Extraordinary Reports A Flying Saint Prophecies A Present Expense of our forced Passage Hopes Fears The Marabouts Geology The coming down of the Wady Inundation Restoration of our Camels Maharees from En-Noor El-Fadeea Arab Tuaricks Maghata Picturesque Wady Rainy Season Another Flood Dangerous Position Kailouees and Blacks The Escort arrives The Marabout Population Reported Brigands The Walad Suleiman Pleasant Valley Escort leave us Difficulty of satisfying them Robbery Proceed to Tintalous Encampment The Sultan A Speech We wait in vain for Supper Want of Food.
But I must make the best of him; might easily get a worse servant. Glad the eldest son of the Sheikh Makouran has joined the caravan; he came riding after us this evening, attended with a Touarick, both mounted on maharees, well equipped and capable of scouring The Desert. 28th. Some time before we got off this morning, on account of the difficulty of watering the camels.
Twenty-eight maharees are arrived from En-Noor." On further inquiries, I learned that the Sultan had sent us an escort of twenty men mounted, and eight on foot; but rain having fallen and still continuing to fall, and the fact of our being surrounded by water, prevented the approach of these troops to the encampment.
A few robbers have often visited us before this. When I had an interview with En-Noor I asked for a couple of guards, but he refused them, on the plea that they were unnecessary. Although he knew well the country is now full of thieves, and told us so, he never expected this audacious attack of thirteen maharees! Soudan abounds with thieves, and we must now always keep watch.
Gagliuffi's table about this time; they were very good. 12th. The Germans were preparing to start early in the morning; they are obliged to lighten everything, and reduce each camel load to two and a-half, or even two cantars. The Tuaricks will not carry more; generally their maharees are small, and they have few stray camels. The Germans went off in good style and great spirits.
The twenty maharees have joined the nuptial festivities this morning. A number of women are squatting in a group on the ground, and the men mounted on their camels are riding round and round them, sometimes in single file, and at other times in two's and two's. Whilst this is going on, another mounted party gallops up one by one to the group from a short distance.
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