282 
SALT-CAKES OF BILMA. 
9^^. — I rose without receiving any good news. 
On the contrary, Mr. Sfaxee, who has always pro- 
fessed such disinterestedness, begins to hint demands. 
I find that I shall have to pay him as much as the 
other people. Escort En-Noor, by the way, was 
delighted with the little present I made to him of a 
pair of coloured scissors for his wife. The thermo- 
meter a little after mid-day rose to 94° Fahr. and 
27° 30' of Reaum. In the afternoon the rain only 
threatened, and we had but two or three puffs of 
wind. 
We hear that the Sultan is better; and from his 
servants we collect that he is not willing we should 
go on to Zinder unless escorted by himself. Cer- 
tainly this arrangement would please us under ordi- 
nary circumstances; but we hear that it would de- 
tain us two or three months in Aheer, which will 
never do. To-day I made acquaintance with the 
round salt-cakes of Bilma. They consist of a very 
rough species of salt, like so many big round grains 
of the coarsest sandstone. One that I saw was of a 
dark brown colour, extremely dirty, about half-a- 
foot in diameter. Apparently these lumps are very 
compact ; they serve as money both in Soudan and 
Tintalous. The greater part of the revenue of 
Aheer is derived from this salt carrying between 
Bilma and Zinder. 
10^^. — This morning I felt much better, as well 
as I have ever done since leaving Tripoli. One 
adapts one's self to any climate by degrees. I took 
