be opportune. Without it, some of our animals might have fallen down.

Round and near Ghât we found the stones which are set up at certain
intervals to mark the direction of the roads, frequently arranged in
circular heaps. An usual form is pyramidal, but the most common practice
of all is to set up one stone end-ways upon one or two others. Sometimes
a hundred of these will be seen together.

We have had some trouble in satisfying the Kailouees for the protection
they afford us. At Ghât the agreement made was for one hundred reals,
half in goods and half in money, and a trifling present when they
arrived at their journey's end. This was arranged by Haj Ibrahim and
Mohammed Kafa, a merchant of Ghât, and consul or wakeel of the
Kailouees, whom I have before mentioned. Immediately that they became a
little familiar with us, they began to say that they had not received
all the hundred reals; but on hearing that we should write to Ghât about
it, they dropped this plea, and asked for another hundred reals as the
present promised them, as they pretended, through Haj Ibrahim. When the
news came respecting Sidi Jafel--taking advantage of our supposed
fears--they boldly demanded a sword, some burnouses, and one hundred
reals in money.

All these demands I firmly resisted as long as I could; but at length,
when a compromise seemed necessary, we arranged for a hundred reals more
in goods. A part we have given here, and the rest we have promised on
our arrival at Aheer. Nothing is now said of Zinder, although the first
arrangement was from Aheer to Zinder. Such are the people we have to
deal with in Africa. But could we not find similar extortion amongst the
innkeepers and the conductors of carriages on the highways of Europe?