still displeased with them on account of their shabby conduct, and
disposed, perhaps, to look at them more unfavourably than they deserve.

A man came over the hills to our right in the course of the day. He
belonged to the Soudan caravan, the great body of which was passing at
no great distance by another road. Our presence does not seem to be
agreeable to such of these people as derive no profit from it. This
individual, in his own name and that of his companions, insists that we
Christians must not be allowed to enter the City of Marabouts, the Holy
City of Aheer. Many Musulman countries of the interior have their holy
cities. Perhaps this worthy man made these observations because he had
nothing else to say. At any rate, having expressed his opinion, he went
off. I regretted his churlish warning; but his presence, to a certain
extent, cheered me. It was pleasant to know that a large body of my
fellow-creatures were near at hand in this inhospitable desert, even
though they entertained feelings of suspicion against us, and were
proceeding on a path which might never again bring us together. Caravans
often pass thus in these regions, like ships at sea, which hail each
other if within hearing, but, not lying-to, are satisfied by this slight
testimony of mutual sympathy.

_11th._--We started somewhat late, and made a good day of nine hours and
a-half through winding narrow valleys, supplying a fair quantity of
hasheesh. The country around was wild and rugged--still the same
primitive formation, gneiss being the most common rock. On the way we
heard the story of the origin of the Kailouees, as given by the Haghar
Tuaricks; it is probably meant as a satire. According to this people, a
female slave escaped from their country, and travelling over the desert,
reached her native place in Soudan. But she bore within her bosom a
pledge that still half bound her to her ancient masters. She brought