224 
BORDERS OF AHEER. 
CHAPTER XIV. 
Enter the inhabited Districts of Aheer — Hostile Tuaricks — An impu- 
dent Demand — The Merchant Waldee — Prepare for Defence — 
Threatening Appearances — Making Friends with Presents — March 
— Leave Waldee — Doubtful Visitors — The Camels stolen — The 
Troop of Assailants draws nigh — Parley — Their Proposition — We 
are compelled to a Compromise — Character of our Enemies — Sinister 
Rumours again — Proceed toward Tidek — Wady of Kaltadak — Pictu- 
resque Scenery — A Friend from Seloufeeat — Fresh Mob collects to 
attack us — Conferences — We are to be let go scot-free if we become 
Muslims — ^We repose — Another Compromise for Money — Incidents 
during the Night — Quarrel over the Booty — Enter the Valley of 
Seloufeeat — Its Soudan Appearance — Nephew of Sultan En-Noor — 
Haj Bashaw of Seloufeeat — We are still uneasy. 
As we advanced, on the 21st, along the plain be- 
tween the granite rocks — trees and flowers starting 
up thicker and thicker from the ground to greet our 
approach — our guides told us that we were at length 
entering the inhabited districts of the kingdom of 
Aheer, or Asben, as it is indifferently called. This 
announcement at once substituted pleasurable for 
uneasy sensations. We thought no more at all of 
pursuing robbers, and gave ourselves up to the 
delight which always attends upon difficulties van- 
quished. The name of the first district isTaghajeet. 
