304 
A WATCH — GAM ATA K. 
day in warm water, which will never be done ; for 
these people are too indolent to perform any labour 
of this kind, even if it be to save their lives. 
My new interpreter, Mohammed, pretends that 
slave servants, or agents, are thought more of, that 
is, are more useful, than free people in Bornou. 
This may be accounted for by the absolute control 
which a master can exercise over his slave. 
The thermometer at sunset ranges 84°. It was 
very warm this afternoon. 
Here and there an ostrich egg tops the conical 
roofs of the huts, from Damerghou to this place. I 
showed the people my watch, and put it to their 
ears that they might hear it tick, tick ; and I may 
observe a singularity on this. The people did not 
say, " Oh ! how it ticks !" but " Kal, kal !" so that 
kal, kal, is the sound which we express by tick, 
tick, in our language. 
}3th. — As usual, we rose before sunrise, and 
started as soon as possible. We made four hours 
in the forenoon, and rested at a well called Birni 
Gamatak. The village is near the well, but we did 
not go to it. From this place to the Tuarick 
country, Gurasu, there are four short days ; but 
the road has no water in this season. The Kai'd of 
the village paid us a visit, and brought us ghaseb- 
water. I amused him and his people w r ith my 
watch and compass. After resting till 4 p.m. we 
started again. At Birni Gamatak a zone of moun- 
tainous country begins, consisting of granite, gneiss, 
