260 
ARRIVE AT TINTALOUS. 
own escort. We had nov/ thirty-one chaouches for 
two whom we obtained in Tripoli. On this I went 
to sleep. 
3c?. — Early in the morning Mohammed En- 
Noor paid me a visit, and promised me that all the 
thing's should be restored — not the smallest thins: 
should be lost. 
I looked about, and saw that the greater num- 
ber of our escort had disappeared during the night, 
and gone to their homes. We now commenced our 
last stage to Tintalous. Mounted on my camel, I 
could not help reflecting that we were tormented to 
the very doors of the dwelling of En-Noor, that the 
people seemed determined we should have no rest 
till we arrived there. Afterwards, perad venture, 
we may iind a little repose ; but w^ho can tell? 
The rain incommoded us as we advanced. 
However, in two hours we arrived at the little vil- 
lage of Asara, where half-a-dozen inhabitants greeted 
us with a stare ; and an hour afterwards entered the 
broad and spacious valley of Tintalous, firing a 
salute as we did so, in compliment to the inhabi- 
tants. 
We had heard much of the great city of Tin- 
talous ; and I confess that, though accustomed to 
desert exaggerations, m}^ mind had dwelt upon this 
place so long, that I expected a much more impos- 
ing sight than that which presented itself. This 
mighty capital consisted of a mass of houses and 
huts, which we calculated to be no more than a 
