_Ghâtee._ Allah! Allah! (greatly surprised).

_Myself._ Why, how is it that you do not know me, Yakōb, as I have
been in Ghât many years before?

At this some of the other people of the caravan cried out, "Yes, yes, we
all know Yakōb;" so that I left the rude slave-merchant quite
crest-fallen. He evidently, at first, wished to assume the airs of a
Haghar, and bully me out of a present.

The caravan consisted of some thirty poor young women and children.
There was also with them a small quantity of elephants' teeth.

Now that the moon is absent and the nights are clear we have a most
splendid view of the heavens, its stars and constellations. The number
of meteors darting to and fro overhead is very great--nearly one a
minute shoots along. Some are only a faint glimmer, and have but the
existence of a moment, whilst others are very beautiful and last several
seconds.

_5th._--The weather is improving; the strong gusts of wind have ceased,
and so has the rain. We have now calm and fine days with moderate heat.

In the afternoon I received another visit from En-Noor, who came
straight into my tent, like an old friend whom I had known for twenty
years. He stopped with me at least an hour, drinking tea and smoking,
chatting the while about his past history and present affairs. He
reiterated again assurances of his friendship for the English, and his
determination to remain the ally of the Queen of England! He referred to