162 
RECEPTION AT GHAT. 
This arrangement enables a visitor to the place to 
calculate with some certainty about the amount of 
obligation he incurs. All the Tuaricks are easily- 
distinguished by their habit of wearing a litham, 
or muffler, with which they conceal their mouths 
and all the lower part of their face. This custom 
gives them a strangely mysterious appearance. 
The house of Haj Ahmed, the governor, to 
which we were conducted, is situated three parts of 
a mile fi'om the town, which I did not enter during 
my stay. It would not have done to expose myself 
to the familiar impudence of the people, who had 
knov/n me during my visit under very different cir- 
cumstances. Besides, my time was folly taken up 
with business matters; so fully, that I scarcely had 
time even to write one or two brief despatches to 
Government. 
On the morning of our arrival at Ghixt all 
fieemed to promise well. The Governor welcomed 
us with hospitality, and his slaves unloaded our 
camels, and quickly conducted us to our apartments. 
At noon, although it was Ramadhan time, we re- 
ceived some dishes of meat, with iigs, grapes, and 
molasses — really a sumptuous repast. We were 
not allowed to go out the first day. 
The next morning there was a general meeting 
of the Sheikhs and people of the town in our apart- 
ments ; and from the turn affairs began to take, we 
found it necessary to despatch a courier to Aroukeen, 
to beg the Tanelkums to wait a few days for us at 
