114 PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 
their streams as running a distance of from one to 
eiglit days' journey. They acknowledge, however, 
that the soil of their country is not very favourable 
to much cultivation of grain and fruit. Perhaps 
they want to attract visitors, but are not likely to 
succeed at present. Justly or unjustly, they bear a 
very bad character; and in Mourzuk, to call a man 
a Tibboo is rather worse than to call a man a Jew 
in Europe. 
June \st^ Post-day. — Letters, private and public, 
were forwarded. It is now determined that we 
shall start for Ghat next Wednesday ; at any rate the 
Germans talk of doing so, whilst I am inclined to 
wait for Hateetah and his escort. It would be im- 
prudent to run the risk of a disaster at this early 
stage of our proceedings, and my greater responsi- 
bility renders me more cautious, and perhaps more 
timid, than my enthusiastic companions. I am. 
engaged in finishing my last despatches and 
reports, collecting Arabic descriptions of Fezzan, 
one of which is by the Bash Kateb, and correspond- 
ing on the future expenditure of the Mission. The 
weather has become very hot with the advancing 
season, but I am now pretty well used to the heat. 
The thermometer has risen to 103°; in Bornou it 
rarely exceeds 105° : I may hope, therefore, to 
brave the sun's rays under or near the line. 
Few incidents worth recording mark the latter 
days of our stay at Mourzuk. I paid a visit to Abd- 
el-Kader, the Sheikh of the Pilgrims. This holy 
