242 ADVANCE ALONG THE VALLEY. 
our coming, but that now we should be conducted 
safely up to the country of En-Noor. This is the only 
man who seems to have any authority in Seloufeeat : 
the marabouts could do little before he came for- 
ward ; the people live in the wildest state of lawless 
independence. 
In the morning before starting, the Sfaxee and 
Yusuf came up to me and said, " All up to now was 
lies ; but henceforth all is truth. You have nothing- 
more to fear — there is nothing now but good." This 
speech I most devoutly devoured, and things cer- 
tainly wore a brighter aspect this morning. But we 
now anxiously wait news from En-Noor. 
We moved up the valley of Seloufeeat, our spirits 
buoyant and mounting high, whilst the air of the 
morning was soft and fresh, not unlike that of Italy. 
After two hours we arrived at the City of Marabouts, 
or Tintaghoda. 
There is considerable variety in the physiognomy 
of the people of Aheer, whom we have already seen ; 
but in general, they have agreeable countenances : 
and as to stature, many of them are very tall, though 
apparently not very robust. Some are of light olive 
complexion, with straight noses and thin lips; but 
others, indeed the great number, approximate to the 
negro in feature. 
This portion of Aheer is still poor in provisions. 
Indeed, all these districts are strictly Saharan. 
There are fine fertile valleys, but between them are 
rocKS and complete deserts ; the trees, which some- 
