our encampment into an isle of the valley.  The current in its deepest part was very powerful, capable of carrying away sheep and cattle, and of uprooting trees.  This is one of the most interesting phenomena I have witnessed during my present tour in Africa.  The scene, indeed, was perfectly African.  Rain had been observed falling in the south; black clouds and darkness covered that zone of the heavens; and an hour afterwards came pouring down this river of water into the dry, parched-up valley.  This incident of Wady Tintaghoda explains the Scriptural phrase, “rivers of waters;” for here indeed was a river of water, appearing in an instant, and almost without notice.  It is not, however, necessary to come to the frontiers of Soudan to witness phenomena, of this nature.  Even in Morocco similar sudden floodings occur every rainy season.

We had been some time employed in watching this singular scene, when another cry was heard.  This was the announcement that our camels were coming,—­certainly a piece of good news that we had been anxiously expecting; but it had often been given before, and after the first excitement we began to feel the sickness of disappointment.  However, four of our camels were in reality brought in; there yet remain out two of ours and three belonging to the Kailouees.  However, our spirits begin now really to revive.  We learn that this act of restitution is attributable to the marabouts.

I went to bed on receiving this news; but I had not rested long before Dr. Barth called out, “Have you heard what has happened?  Twenty-eight maharees are arrived from En-Noor.”  On further inquiries, I learned that the Sultan had sent us an escort of twenty men mounted, and eight on foot; but rain having fallen and still continuing to fall, and the fact of our being surrounded by water, prevented the approach of these troops to the encampment.  The intelligence of their arrival was brought by a man well known to the Tanelkums.  In the afternoon we had heard that En-Noor had received a confused account of our two encounters with the armed bands, and that we had been destroyed by them, or nearly so, but had not yet received our courier.  This circumstance tranquillised us.  We had been anxiously expecting news from En-Noor.  The people always speak of maharees, and not of mounted men; so that twenty maharees are twenty men mounted on maharees.  It rained this evening and during the night:  everything was damp around us.  We now begin to feel, indeed, that we are in a humid atmosphere.

31st.—­I rose early, but it rained hard, and everybody kept within tent.  I am much delighted with my double Bornou tent, for, although it is nothing but a species of gauze cotton-work, it still keeps out the rain.

We are collecting the names and qualities of the chief among our assailants, as we shall have to make a formal complaint against them, not only in order to obtain restitution for our goods, but for the sake of any future travellers.  The people who first attacked us are called El-Fadeea, or El-Fadayan, and are styled by Yusuf Arab Tuaricks, or Tuaricks living in tents.  This tribe was joined by bandits and a few adventurers from all the surrounding districts.