We found here a caravan about to proceed direct to Mourzuk, and I seized the opportunity to write by it to Government and to my wife. During the night some mischievous people again drove away all the camels of the Kailouees, as well as ours. This disturbed us much, and we anticipated fresh extortion and plunder; but we were assured that we had now nothing serious to apprehend. _28th._--We stopped here all day to get back our camels. The caravan was delayed, and I wrote a detailed account of our two affairs to Government. A nephew of Sultan En-Noor came to Seloufeeat this morning, having heard, probably, of our arrival. By him I wrote to En-Noor, from whom we expect an answer to-morrow. In the evening eleven camels of the Kailouees were still missing, and six of ours. Nevertheless, our people determined to go on next morning. I felt much discouraged this evening. A succession of bad affairs was constantly contradicting the assurances of our escort and their friends; the people of Seloufeeat were also excessively troublesome: there seemed no one in the place having authority. At last, near sunset, came forward a certain Haj Bashaw, declaring that we had all been too badly treated, and he would obtain for us redress. This man has considerable wealth, and is in constant communication with Mourzuk, where he sends numbers of slaves, and possesses property. He probably began to quake for his property in Mourzuk, fearing the Turks would make reprisals. I went to bed with the assurance of this man that he would get back for us our camels; nevertheless, having been deceived a thousand times, I had my misgivings. Yet I did not forget we had twice been delivered out of the hands of bandits by our escort and friends, so that we ought not to despair of seeing a brighter and a quieter time. After midnight I had a few hours of refreshing sleep. CHAPTER XV. Leave Seloufeeat--"City of Marabouts"--Fair Promises--People of Aheer--Aspect of the Country--Extraordinary Reports--A Flying Saint--Prophecies--A Present--Expense of our forced Passage--Hopes--Fears--The Marabouts--Geology--The coming down of the Wady--Inundation--Restoration of our Camels--Maharees from En-Noor--El-Fadeea--Arab Tuaricks--Maghata--Picturesque Wady--Rainy Season--Another Flood--Dangerous Position--Kailouees and Blacks--The Escort arrives--The Marabout Population--Reported Brigands--The Walad Suleiman--Pleasant Valley--Escort leave us--Difficulty of satisfying them--Robbery--Proceed to Tintalous--Encampment--The Sultan--A Speech--We wait in vain for Supper--Want of Food.