evening, which occasioned a disturbance between the servants and myself.
This worthy is not to be trusted with the care of any strong liquor. The
little Hamadee was privy to the theft. In the course of the evening the
_new moon_ was seen by seven creditable persons, so that in eight days
more we shall have the Feast of the "Descent of the Koran from Heaven,"
and four or five days after that we hope to start for Zinder.

_7th._--This was a fine morning, with the thermometer at sunrise in the
tent 70°; outside, 66°. The water has been so cooled during the night
that my hands ached when I washed them. Later in the season it will be
yet colder; and all reports tell us that in Kanou after the rains it is
often very chilly.

His highness the Sultan again was attracted by my tea and marmalade, and
gave me a call. He desired to see once more the portrait of Clapperton,
and told me that Abdallah had five women in Sakkatou, and had left
behind him three children, all boys. The Sultan was excessively friendly
in manner, which induced me to make him another little present of a ring
set with paste, and a small pair of gilt scissors for one of his wives.
He calls me his brother, and manifests increased anxiety to be friendly
with the English. According to him, a short time since the Sheikh of
El-Fadeea, who commanded the attack made on us at the frontier, came
here; and, in consideration of a few presents and compliments, had
promised to exert himself to procure the restoration of our lost or
stolen camels. En-Noor also again talked about the boat. I am in great
hopes that we shall part from him on good terms, and that he will be
true to his protestations. There is generally a companion with the old
gentleman on these visits. This time it was an aged Tanelkum, who
married a sister of the Sheikh and has been settled many years in the
country. We gave him more tea, and also a piece of white sugar, to carry