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Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1 - Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government by James Richardson
page 159 of 292 (54%)
somewhere about Falezlez; but this seems somewhat doubtful. When people
separate in the desert they must not calculate on meeting again in a
hurry. We parted about three hours from the water of Akourou, the road
to Aroukeen branching off there. He took the easterly route and we the
westerly, and we were soon out of sight. Our way still lay through
desert-hills, but with vegetation frequently. There was talk of the
small oasis of Janet to our left; and we indulged in some pastoral
reflections on the life of contemplative ease and primitive simplicity
which would be indulged in in such an out-of-the way place.

We seem to have got into some scrape with the Kailouees. Besides the
hundred dollars which Haj Ibrahim paid them to conduct us from Aheer to
Zinder, it appears he promised them some burnouses, when we have none
for them. They mentioned the subject to-day, very naturally. We must do
as well as we can. They seem civil enough; but an incident has just
occurred which has much displeased me.

It appears that when these people came to Ghât, a few weeks ago, they
left a sick slave with some shepherds among these rocks. To-day they
inquired about the slave, whether she was dead, or what had become of
the poor thing; but the shepherds refused to give any account,--said, in
fact, they knew nothing about the matter. Upon this the Kailouees seized
a black boy belonging to these poor people and dragged him along, with a
rope round his neck, to terrify him into confessing what had become of
the slave. The poor boy, however, had nothing to confess; so at last,
after they had dragged him for some distance, they let him go. Such is a
specimen of the incidents which almost daily occur, arising out of this
horrible traffic. I lectured one of the Kailouees on the subject, and
told him that we were in Tuarick territory, and that such an action
might bring the genuine Tuaricks upon us.
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