However, we must bear in mind, that in a country governed in so irregular way, it is very difficult to answer for the future. The governor, Haj Ahmed himself, told me in a deprecating manner, "Ghât is a country of Sheikhs!" and Hateetah says, half jocularly, "Ghât has thirty Sultans!" Fortunately, however, it is the interest of the rulers of this part of the desert to encourage traffic; they live by it; otherwise it would be dangerous to trust to their assurances.
We were in all but seven days in Ghât, so that I had no time to make researches. However, I am fortunate in procuring a collection of dialogues and a vocabulary of most of the common words in the Tuarick dialect of the tribes in Ghât. I employed for this purpose Mohammed Shereef, nephew of the Governor of Ghât, who is a pretty good Arabic scholar. I have also made an arrangement with my friend Haj Ibrahim to forward to the British Government a small quantity of Soudan manufactures for the Exhibition of 1851; so that the industry and handicraft of the dusky children of Central Africa may be represented side by side with the finished works of Paris and London artisans.[6]
[6] This account of Mr. Richardson's residence at Ghât is copied from a summary in his journal, with occasional insertions from his despatches to Government. It is very brief and imperfect; but the traveller was so fully occupied by various kinds of business during his stay, that he was not able to write, and only threw upon paper a rough memorandum after he had started on his way to Aheer. The imperfection is the less to be regretted, as, up to this point, the Sahara had previously been pretty well travelled and described. He now breaks fresh ground, and is more copious in his notes.--ED.
Start from Ghât--Reflections--Beautiful Valley of Berket--Last Date-palms--The Kailouees--Dr. Barth lost again--Meet our Guides--The Akourou Water--Ghadeer--Soudan Influence on the Tuaricks--Wataitee leaves us--Oasis of Janet--Kailouee Character--A sick Slave--Rocky Desert--Gloomy Scene--Servants--Egheree Water--Ajunjer--A threatened Foray from Janet--Sidi Jafel Waled Sakertaf--We have no Money--Region of Granite--Dr. Barth's Comparisons--A Slave Caravan--Granite Rocks--Beating Women--The Bird of the Desert--Desolate Region--Our Relations with the Kailouees.