viii 
PREFACE. 
escort of Tuarick cliieftains, with whom he had 
partly made acquaintance during a former trip 
in the desert. This escort appeared after some 
delay ; and the Mission proceeded across the 
Pezzan plains to the independent state of Ghat, 
through a very wild and picturesque country. 
At this point began, if not the most arduous, at 
any rate the most dangerous, and at the same 
time the most novel, part of the journey. Mr. 
Richardson had undertaken, on his way to Sou- 
dan Proper (his first destination), to pass by the 
hitherto unexplored kingdom of Aheer or Asben, 
situated towards the southern limits of the Sa- 
hara. The march of the Mission across the 
deserts that lie between Ghat and that territory 
was rendered exciting by continual reports of 
danger from pursuing freebooters of the Haghar 
and Azgher tribes; but the enemy were out- 
stripped, and no actual attack took place until 
the first inhabited districts of Aheer were reached. 
Here some lawless tribes levied black-mail 
on the caravan, which was then permitted to 
proceed, though in doubt and alarm, until it 
arrived under the long-expected protection of 
Sheikh En-Noor, one of the great chiefs of the 
Kailouee tribes, at his town, or rather encamp- 
