The men too write poetry sometimes. I have not time or space to give specimens of the productions of these writers of the Niger districts; but I cannot refrain from quoting two examples given by Commandant Hanotaux in his Tamschek grammar, which were written by Tuaregs of the north. The first is a madrigal, composed and transcribed in the album of a young lady of Algiers by Bedda of Ida. It must be observed that Bedda was the first Tuareg to visit Algeria. I speak; and, Angelina, thine the name! Love in my heart for thee can never die. What son of Adam may endure the flame That burns within that dark, alluring eye? For love of thee, enslavèd by thy glance, I e’en would journey forth afar to France! Who holds thee, Angelina, in his arms, May dream secure, the fairest vision thou! We thought no human limbs the lissom charm Of fleet gazelles could e’er surpass, but now, Since we have seen thy perfect form and face, We know that we were wrong; thou hast _all_ grace! If thou shouldst come to us, come to our land, Each man among us would go forth to thee And sue thy favour; and should one demand What price I’d pay could I but purchase thee, I ween, for such possession I would give, indeed, Six thousand golden pieces, or my steed![7] Are not the sentiments expressed in this madrigal wonderfully gallant for a so-called savage? The second piece of poetry is really a satire, the daughter of Abukias apostrophized in it having been compelled to repulse the too ardent advances of an admirer, who could not forgive her scorn. Daughter of Aboukias! thou hast come, And the sun was hot when thou didst say “good-day”; Time was, when but to hear thy words repeated Filled me with mad desire to be with thee, For thou wast in mine eyes a _houri_. But now we know thy nature through and through. Rash are thy words—reserve unknown to thee; And in thy treachery thou wilt die. Wert thou of noble race, how would thy good blood show? By silence golden—not by reckless blame of other women, For thou wouldst know thyself! Yet one more word before I close, A word which many others will confirm; Aye, others married ere thy birth, Whose steps have led them far away to lands unknown to thee, And towns, whose very names thou hast not heard. Young men there are, thou fain wouldst know, Owners of herds and camels which will ne’er be thine, To saddle in war or to milk when at peace. But as for thy lover, the man thou didst scorn, What matter to us though thou left him forlorn? No translation could really give any idea of the vigorous ring of these verses in the original Tamschek. They are alike forcible and rhythmic without any of that undue use of gutturals for which the Tuaregs blame the Arabs, calling their language in derision the _Takhamkhamen_.