EN-NOOR DEMANDS A FRESH PRESENT. 289 
of repose or enjoyment in Alieer. It may be, here- 
after, " sweet to remember these things," but it is 
now a sad trial of patience to bear them. I abused 
En-Noor and our servants in turn. As to the forty 
metagais, there was not a question ventured about 
that ; but the present of En-Noor was the largest 
we had ever made, and it would have been better to 
have brought with us letters of recommendation for 
robbers than such people. All this comes after it 
had been noised abroad through the whole village 
that En-Noor was greatly rejoiced at the present, 
and all the people were happy and content. Such, 
however, is the dependence to be placed on reports 
in the African kingdom of Aheer ! However, I am 
determined to give way to no more vain fears, but 
to preserve as much as possible of the property of 
Government. I am sorry to say that I receive no 
assistance in my efforts to save the money with 
which I have been entrusted. 
I am now writing to Mr. Gagliufti on the sub- 
ject of the great losses and shameless extortion to 
which we were subjected on our arrival in this 
country. In reviewing the whole affair, setting 
apart the personal devotion exhibited towards my- 
self, I have no cause to be pleased with our escort 
and servants. They gave way too easily to fear, and 
seem to have been too willing to allow us to buy 
ourselves off. I have omitted to mention that they 
wished us to write a document, to the effect that if 
we came to harm it was not through their fault i 
VOL. I. u 
