THREATENING MESSAGE FROM EN-NOOR. 291 
and Zinder." This must be taken to signify, En- 
Noor has great influence in all these countries. 
Asoudee is said by some to be a city, availed, 
and of considerable extent, with many people ; others 
represent it as being in ruins. I think its ruins are 
mentioned in my Ghadamez itinerary. Unlike 
Tintalous, a great quantity of provisions is stored 
up in that place. 
Yusuf and the Sfaxee came this morning from 
En-Noor, and brought more tranquillising news ; 
but we have been obliged to give ten douros each 
for finding the lost camels — almost as much as my 
white maharee is worth. However, I remained in 
tolerably good spipts all day, cheered by the favour- 
able account given me of the Sultan. But woe to 
the man who hugs himself in a feeling of security 
in Aheer ! 
Late in the evening Yusuf and the Sfaxee came 
from En-Noor with a most threatening message. 
The Sheikh says, in substance, that " Everybody 
wishes to attack us, and take away our property. 
To protect us, therefore, and conduct us to Zinder, 
he must have, at least, seven hundred dollars." At 
first he demanded one thousand, and then came 
down to seven hundred. Such is the man to whom 
we are recom^mended as a friend and protector. 
None of the robbers have yet taken so large a sum, 
so that this is the greatest, grandest of the brigands ! 
I went to bed disquieted by the enormity of En- 
Noor's demands. 
