When the waters had subsided a little the nephew of En-Noor came to us from the town, to see our situation.  He then went to meet the Maharees which had arrived from his uncle, and soon sent to tell us that all was right, that this party came purposely to afford us protection, and that it included the sons of En-Noor, their nephews, and a son-in-law, besides many household servants; in all, thirty-one men mounted, and the rest on foot.

In the evening we moved out of the valley, and encamped on the high ground.  The rain continued to incommode us.  The things of the Germans were all wet—­I managed to keep mine dry; but our sense of security now kept up our spirits.

Towards the evening the whole male population came out of the town to see the ravages of water, and learn how we fared.  There might be fifty persons, men and boys.  These marabouts pretend that when they first saw the escort of En-Noor, they thought it was an enemy come to attack us whilst isolated by the floods of rain.

They said there were some hundred bandits and other lawless men collected behind the rocks, waiting for us, but on seeing the escort of En-Noor they had retired by small numbers.  Certainly there may have been some twenty or thirty such people, and, undoubtedly, the escort of En-Noor produced a salutary effect upon these brigands, as well as upon the holy maraboutee population who drove away our camels.

When at the Marabouteen, as Tintaghoda is called, a very fine gold-embroidered waistcoat was brought by the escort of En-Noor to me, to ask what it was worth.  I guessed about two hundred reals; Yusuf thought the same.  It appeared that this waistcoat was the property of Abd-el-Galeel, and was taken as plunder during the last expedition of the Kailouees against the Walad Suleiman.  There are several slaves also at Seloufeeat, who once were the property of these Arabs.  According to the report of the Kailouees they have destroyed all the Walad Suleiman,—­killed them every one.  They went against the Arabs ten thousand strong; some of the enemy, however, are said to have died of hunger.  It is, besides, reported that the people of Bornou assisted in their destruction.  Abd-el-Galeel himself is rumoured to have been killed.  Evidently many of the unfortunate Arabs have been surprised, and many of them slaughtered; but I cannot believe in their total annihilation.  We shall be better informed at Zinder and Kuka.

Sept. 1st.—­We started late, on account of our things being all wet.  The morning was as favourable for drying as the day before had been for wetting, there being a high wind with sunshine.  We journeyed on five hours and a-half, and encamped near some pools of water.  A cascade during rainy weather shoots down from the highest tops of the rocky mountains.

Before us was a pleasant valley, wherein were the ruins of huts that had been carried away by the waters.  Ferajee invited me to visit the Water with him, and I went.  In this neighbourhood the rocky heights assumed their boldest forms, many of the peaks being considerably elevated; all granite.