304 
A LEARNED JUDGE. 
of one of the learned men of this place, to all the 
towns and villages around him, begging* the Sheikhs 
and people not to offer us any molestation whilst we 
were residing here, under his immediate protection, 
as his guests, and as sacred persons recommended to 
his care. This shows good- will in the venerable 
Sultan. He sent to us this morning the result of 
the Kadi's decision, respecting the robbers. This 
singular question was put to the Kadi, " Whether 
it was lawful to rob and murder the Christians by 
night?" Answer, "INo; on the contrary, the 
Christians may fire on and kill the Muslim 
robbers." The Sultan, it appears, attaches great 
importance to this decision, and counts on it to 
obtain the suffrages of all his people in our favour. 
Such are the circumstances attendins; the first 
visit of Christians to Aheer! I believe this attack 
will do our servants good. They see now, that, by a 
little resistance, the most audacious of thieves will 
be put to flight. We ourselves shall also keep better 
watch for the future. 
ISth. — I finished to-day a vocabulary of the 
Kailouee language. I endeavour also to divert my 
mind from the many causes of annoyance that now 
exist, by studying the records of the Denham and 
Clapperton expedition. We shall soon be amidst 
the same countries that they explored, and, no 
doubt, shall find that little has changed in the man- 
ners of the people during these last thirty years. 
Neither in the Desert nor in the kingdoms of Central 
