THE SON OF SHAFOU. 
121 
for his safety. Mr. Gagliuffi had written to him to 
come with an escort to protect our party as far as 
Gh^t. It appears, however, that very grand ac- 
counts had circulated in the Sahara on the mag- 
nitude and importance of our mission; so that it was 
impossible for one Sheikh to monopolise us. Ha- 
teetah, therefore, had come, accompanied by two sons 
of Shafou, the nominal Sultan of all the Tuaricks 
of Ghat. Wataitee, the elder of the two, is very 
j)lausible, and undertakes to accompany us as far 
as Aheer. It is to be observed, that the Tuaricks of 
this place have hitherto never ventured to come to 
Mourzuk ; and it is considered wonderful that they 
have come for the first time at the summons of 
infidels. 
My first plan was, to proceed by the direct route 
to Aroukeen with the Germans and the Tanelkums, 
and from this place make an indispensable expedi- 
tion to Ghat. But circumstances compel me to 
march direct to that place by the common road. 
Our escort is to cost us dear, but it will ensure our 
safety. These Ghat Tuaricks, however great they 
may talk in their own country, are really very poor; 
they subsist almost entirely on the custom-dues levied 
on caravans. Wataitee himself said, " I am the son 
of the Sultan, it is true; but I have nothing. If 
I stay in my country, I do not feel my necessities 
much ; but if I must escort you to Aheer, then I 
must be well-clothed and fed, or else the people will 
say, ' Behold the son of Shafou, how poor and 
