78 
REMINISCENCES OF A SHEIKH. 
likewise do, I imagine, if I live to be old. Showing 
us Lis withered fleshless arms, and taking hold of 
his armlets, he observed : " The time was when 
these armlets could not slip off. Now, see how 
easily they come away." He then abused me for 
my leanness, and admired the Taleb (Overweg) 
because he had more flesh on his bones. His high- 
ness also stated that he and a single man went to 
Damerghou and back in thirteen days, bringing a 
caravan of ghaseb. They never stopped on the 
road, but travelled day and night. This garrulous 
gentleman also declared he was the maker of his 
own fortunes — that he would not receive anything 
from his father. When he was young, he would 
take no person's advice ; he did everything himself 
and from himself : but on the death of his father 
he always kept to his post as Sheikh of Tintalous, 
and Sultan of two towns in Soudan. He never 
moved this way or that way. Thus he has remained 
to a good old age, respected and venerated by all, 
whilst all his compeers have disappeared — not one 
remaining. He looks around for the friends and 
companions of his youth, and finds not one — they 
are all gone ! Even now he allows no one in Asben 
to be greater than himself. Even if a Sultan pre* 
sumes to lord it over him, he (En-Noor) at once 
knocks him down, and he is no longer Sultan in 
Asben. He remains, however, friends with all if he 
can. He never takes notice of anything which is 
not done under his own eyes ; but when he sees a 
