POLITICAL CONDITION OF AHEER. 
7] 
The Sagamaram (or Sgamara) are an interesting 
small tribe, located in the rocky valleys, along the 
line of the route from Aisou to Tuat. They are 
mostly dressed in leathern clothes, and trade with 
Tuat, taking their cloths and a fragrant herb called 
dehau, which they exchange against dates, &c. They 
likewise come to Aheer and Soudan, and fetch slaves 
and goods for the souks of Tuat. They are a very 
pacific tribe, not unlike the Tanelkams, but carrying 
on more commerce. 
The Maghatah (or Maratah) are a thievish race, 
and have the vices of their mothers, those peculiar 
to Soudan, as well as the more ferocious traits of 
Berber bandits. Several of these people are in 
Janet. 
In concluding these imperfect general observa- 
tions on the state of Aheer or Asben, I will only 
add that the country extends from north to south 
eleven days' journey, or about two hundred and 
twenty miles (twenty miles to the day) ; and east 
and west, eight days, or one hundred and sixty 
miles. Aghadez, the largest town or city, stands, 
as has been seen, alone; and may be considered 
as a kind of connecting link, politically and other- 
wise, with the black countries to the south. I have 
already endeavoured to explain the singular con- 
stitution of society in this large but thinly-peopled 
tract. We observe there a curious combination 
of the monarchical and patriarchal states, with a 
dash of democracy into the bargain. Several times 
