160 
THE PEOPLE OF GHAT. 
point of a journey. Beyond, southward, every- 
thing to us was unknown, and, we believed, to all 
Europeans. Every step further, then, promised to 
be a discovery. Should we be allowed to proceed un- 
molested ? Would UQ obstacle, natural or artificial, 
intervene ? Much would depend on our reception 
in Ghat. On ni}^ former visit I had not, on the 
whole, reason to complain of the Sheikhs of the 
Tuaricks, whose chief place this is. I remembered 
the venerable Shafou, the dashing Khanouhen, 
Avith .labour, and all the others, from whom I had 
received what might be called kindness. Hateetah, 
it is true, had hitherto somewhat disappointed me ; 
and I know that great expectation had been already 
aroused in this little secluded territory of profit to 
be made out of my mission. Whether I should be 
able to meet all demands was a serious question 
with me. I am pleased to say that the Governor's 
son came out to meet us, and conduct us to the 
house of his father, who, with several of the notables 
of Ghat, were assembled, and gave us, in truth, a 
cordial reception. 
It may be as well to remind the reader that 
Ghat is a small town which has grown up in the 
territory of the Azgher Tuaricks, in consequence 
of the convenience of the place as a station for the 
caravans from Soudan Proper, and other points of 
Central Africa. It is inhabited principally by 
people of Moorish origin, but mixed and known as 
Gbateen. Haj Ahmed, the governor, is also a 
I 
