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Wataitee asked me whether he should go to see if there were any Tuaricks at Janet, to get news of them; but I told him that he had better continue with us until we reach Tajetterat. This he has agreed to do; and we all feel that his presence is, to a certain extent, a protection. In the evening we had a visit from three Tuarick sportsmen, with a couple of dogs.
Wataitee seems to expect that I should give him something like a hundred reals in money for his pretended extra services, and goes thundering about, "that the lands, and rocks, and mountains of Ghât do not belong to God, but to the Azgher, to whom the Creator has given them once and for ever, and who are the sovereign and omnipotent rulers of this portion of earth this large tract of Sahara."
About ten in the morning, on the 5th, a solitary white camel, with a rider, was reported as trotting rapidly over the hills to the east. The circumstance created some excitement. It was Mohammed Wataitee, son of Shafou, coming riding like the monarch of the desert, as he is, upon his fine maharee.
Escort En-Noor, as I am obliged to distinguish him, returns to his place this night, and takes with him three or four camels, to give them something to eat; they are starving here near the town. I settled with him for the thirty-seven reals of Wataitee in goods, not money; so the Queen's property goes!
However, it will remain true, no doubt, that south of Ghât the influence of Soudan will be far more sensibly marked than on the other side. The son of Shafou, Mahommed Wataitee, who seems to have made up his mind to shirk the journey to Aheer, left us this morning to go to Aroukeen and meet his father, who is encamped with his flocks and dependants around that well.
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.
Whilst speaking to Yusuf on this subject, En-Noor the Kailouee, who, by the bye, must not be confounded with the Sultan of Aheer bearing the same name, came in and told us that he had just seen Wataitee, who was exceedingly exasperated, and who threatened to stop the caravan in the morning if his demands were not complied with. What is to be done?
Two small carcases cost us about a mahboub. Wataitee pretends that these hunters never carry provisions with them, but must catch wadan and oxen or die. I made a tremendous supper of wadan, being as ravenous as a wolf for a little meat and soup. The meat is so strong and nourishing, that it threatened to produce injurious effects.
Wataitee, the elder of the two, is very plausible, and undertakes to accompany us as far as Aheer. It is to be observed, that the Tuaricks of this place have hitherto never ventured to come to Mourzuk; and it is considered wonderful that they have come for the first time at the summons of infidels.
A caravan arrived yesterday from Ghât, and reports that Wataitee had returned to that place and brought reassuring news respecting us. Behind is coming another caravan, in which is some Moor from Tripoli. Probably this person will bring news or letters.
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