However, the following day we had a regular debate, the result of which
was that the Sheikhs and heads of the town declared they could not come
to a final arrangement until the winter souk (market), when all the
notables would be assembled.

A great deal of unpleasant discussion occurred during all these
meetings, and I had to fight my way step by step. The Shereef was first
on my side, but as I had promised him a present only if the treaty were
signed, and as he saw that this would not take place, he turned round
and became my active enemy. However, it was out of his power to do me
much harm. The greater part of the last days of my stay were spent in
agitation about the presents for Jabour, Khanouhen, Berka, and others,
some of whom were absent. I said that nothing could be given until the
Sheikhs and the people of Ghât did something for the Queen--for the
presents were the Queen's presents. Finally, the day before our
departure, a great uproar was made on this subject, and I was obliged to
yield the point, and give them burnouses. These presents had been
promised to Hateetah on the road from Mourzuk to Ghât, upon the
condition that the Sheikhs and people would agree to the treaty. They
had also been mentioned at Mourzuk; but then, nothing had been said
about conditions. I considered it highly impolitic to allude to the
treaty in the hearing of the Turks, who would have thought I was
secretly going to enter into an alliance offensive and defensive with
the Ghâteen against them. The Tuaricks, however, stood upon the point,
that when the burnouses were promised first, there was no talk of an
equivalent, and I was obliged to concede.

When I had finished distributing these presents, there was peace for the
few hours that we were yet to remain at Ghât. Haj Ahmed, however, seeing
and hearing of all this confusion, became alarmed lest I should repeat