handkerchief to wrap it in. As usual, he did not seem satisfied with
this; so I added a loaf of white sugar. He then noticed Yusuf, and thus
addressed him: "Yusuf! I have heard that Hateetah and the son of Shafou
are about to conduct these Christians to Soudan. I am a better man than
them all! Now Hateetah and Waled Shafou will want this sugar and tobacco
on the road. I leave it for them." On this he started up on two sticks,
for he is doubly lame, having the Guinea-worm in both legs, and went
away hurriedly. I, however, sent the sugar and tobacco after him, and
this time he condescended to accept them. He came to see me mounted on
his maharee (or dromedary).

To the old bandit of Ghadamez I also presented some tobacco, and he went
his way. Fortunately there were few Tuaricks in Ghât at this time,
otherwise I should have had hosts of such visitors. The absence of these
grasping chiefs has interfered, it is true, with the treaty of commerce;
but it is possible, that even had Khanouhen been present some other
shift would have been discovered. There are now present in Ghât only the
Sheikh Jabour, Waled Shafou, Sheikh Hateetah, Sheikh Ouweek, and Haj
Ahmed, the governor of the town. The Sultan Shafou himself is on the
road to Soudan, and we shall probably meet him in a few days on our way.
I have, however, sent this aged chieftain a handsome sword from the
English Government, by his son, to whom I gave it in one of the public
meetings.

With reference to the treaty, it may, perhaps, be considered in a fair
way to be finally accepted. At the winter souk every person of influence
and authority in the country will be present, and in the form in which I
have presented it, I believe it will provoke little or no opposition.
The clauses with reference to religion and the slave-trade have, of
course, been left out; the first as unnecessary, the second as dangerous