324 ASTAKEELEE — NEWS FROM THE NORTH. 
26th. — Whilst we were occupied in drying our 
clotlies after the previous day's tempest, we learned 
that another Sultan had put himself on the list of 
beggars. His Excellency Astakeelee of Asoudee has 
written a long letter to En-Noor, of which we are the 
subject. The substance is that it is a sin {haram) to 
plunder us Christians. En-Noor says we must send 
him some trifle as a present. There remain yet to 
come Lousou and some others. I am glad we are 
not expected to give much in these cases, as our 
means would not allow us to do so. I sent to As- 
takeelee a red cloth caftan or long loose gown, a 
white turban, a fez, a small looking-glass, and a 
few cloves for the Sultana, the total value about 
twelve dollars. 
Serious news has just come in from the northern 
frontier. It appears that the Azgher who fol- 
lowed us all the way from Aisou to Aheer, se- 
cretly exciting the people against us, have joined 
with the Kailouee borderers in an attack upon a 
small Tibboo caravan. Two of the merchants have 
been killed, and thirty-five slaves stolen and carried 
away over the desert, in the direction of Tuat. 
This news was brought in the afternoon by a 
caravan of Fezzanees, who have arrived from Ghat. 
They declare that they buried the bodies of the 
two murdered men. A servant who escaped gave 
tliem the rest of the news. It is probable that the 
Tibboos made considerable resistance on the road, 
as they are brave fellows, and this resistance occa- 
