DIGGING A WELL — PAGANS AND CHRISTIANS. 43 
This afternoon a well was commenced near our 
tents. The digging of a well is an important matter ; 
his highness En-Noor, therefore, vouchsafed his 
presence. A number of the excavators came to me 
to beg for sugar. I brought out a piece of white 
loaf sugar, and broke it into thirty pieces or so ; then 
ordered one of them to divide it fairly amongst 
themselves : but this was impossible. Anything like 
fairness amongst the Kailouees, all of whom are 
addicted to thieving (a habit acquired from Soudan), 
was out of the question. As soon as I rose from 
the ground, after breaking the sugar on a leathern 
apron, there was a general rush upon it, and some 
got a great deal and others none. Was not this a 
fine miniature picture of mankind ? 
0,4th. — En-Noor paid me a very early visit, and 
drank coffee. I heard that a courier to Mourzuk 
would cost forty dollars. I begin to learn a little 
Soudanese ; there are some beautiful soft words in 
it. Yusuf says there is no name for God in this 
language ; but his statement requires further ex- 
amination. 
From what we learn respecting Earth's re- 
ception at Aghadez, it would appear that the people 
were disposed to look upon him with the same com- 
placency as they are wont to regard the pagans, or 
En-sara as they call them, of Gouber and Maradee. 
Indeed, the Tanelkums and Kailouees consider that 
we shall be well received by our brethren, the pagans 
of Soudan. 
