Chap. LII. MEETING WITH MR. OVERWEGr. 471 
had ever seen him. But he informed me that since 
his return he had been very ailing, and that even at 
present he did not feel quite recovered. He gave me 
a very lively and encouraging description of the 
means which had been placed at my disposal ; and 
with the most spirited projects for the future we 
entered the town. Here I once more found myself 
in my old quarters, with luxuries at my command 
which during the last six months had become almost 
strange to me, — such as coffee with sugar, and tea 
with milk and sugar. 
It was very fortunate that I had not arrived half 
a day later ; for the caravan as well as the courier 
had gone, and not less than four days had passed 
since the departure of the latter, so that the people 
declared that it was not possible to send my letters 
after him. But the vizier, upon whom I called early 
the next morning, and who received me with great 
kindness, gave me three horsemen, who, he said, 
would overtake the courier ; and as I had fortu- 
nately answered my letters and despatches in Baglrmi, 
I had only to make up my parcel : but the horsemen 
did not overtake the courier till he had got forty miles 
beyond Ngegimi, in the very heart of the desert. My 
servants did not arrive until the evening of the follow- 
ing day; and they were in rather a sorry plight, having 
had great difficulty with my camel and luggage. 
We had a very important private audience Mollda ? 
with the sheikh, when, after the usual com- August 23rcL 
pliments were passed, I endeavoured to give him a 
H H 4 
