278 
MY DEPRESSION NEWS. 
rest there : you shall not fight." Some added : ''Let 
them kill us first ; then you may fight if you please : 
but whilst we are living remain in your tent ! " 
These were not mere words, but expressed sympathy 
and fidelity. I ought to mention, that all along this 
journey I went among the people by the name of 
Consul Yakob, whilst Dr. Barth was known as the 
Keis, and Dr. Overweg as the Taleb. 
On this occasion these poor fellows threw words 
of consolation to me in the midst of their bartering 
for provisions, which at the present moment was 
their greatest care, if I except that of eating them. 
They have been living on short commons, and have 
suffered as much as we have. Want of regular food 
may have had an effect on me. I find that my 
hopes of good health are to be disappointed. I am 
obliged to keep my bed this afternoon, and to refrain 
from nourishment. Meanwhile a storm again comes 
on, laden with sand, which covers everything. Then 
follows violent rain, which lasts until late in the 
evening. 
As I lay, troubling myself with apprehension of 
the Kailouees, En-Noor of our escort came to pay 
us a visit. He says he has been to his own town, 
and promises us better fortune higher up towards 
Soudan than we have hitherto had. He is himself 
about to start with a large caravan for Zinder, in 
about twenty days. Among other news, he tells us 
of the progress of the insurrection. The tribes 
passed some distance to our right a few days ago, 
