At the present time he is constantly receiving visits from the surrounding Kubar, “great people,” inquiring after his health, and bringing presents.  Whilst he thus amasses treasure, he feeds a number of dependants a little above the starvation point; and this standing army suffices for his executive.  Several of the princes of Aheer are expected to visit the new Sultan of Aghadez, and compliment him on his accession.  The exact name of the new Sultan is now said to be Kadaree Ben El-Bagharee.

23d.—­I rose early, to send off the despatches.  They are sent to Asoudee, where there is a caravan just arrived from Kanou.  Among the persons composing it are some Mourzuk people, who will take charge of the despatches.  This caravan stays a few days in Asoudee, when it will leave direct for Mourzuk, and arrive at this latter city in the course of two months and a-half.

I have just received an account of the route of the salt-caravans from Tintalous to Bilma:—­

From Tintalous to Asaughar Five days.
        " Fakramah One day.
        " K[=a]w[=a]r One day.
        " Boulouma One day.

The mediate time occupied is said to be between eight and fourteen days.  The three stations mentioned between Tintalous and Bilma have wells of water.  There is also an abundance of herbage all along the route for camels.  The direction of the route is always east, over a flat country (probably through wadys); although, my informant adds, there are no mountains.  The salt is found in small lakes.  The people amass it with the water, and make of it round cakes; the water runs away, and the cakes become hard and dry.  It is then packed up in camel-loads.  A large camel-load pays to the Tibboos half a metagal, or about ninepence English money.  It is thus evident that the Tibboos do derive a revenue from their salt, contrary to what was stated by them to Major Denham.  Since his time, however, this people have found themselves in a better condition to enforce this impost on the Kailouee salt-merchants than they were formerly.

The caravan of Ghat Tuaricks brought here the news, a few days ago, that no less than four hundred people, fractions of the tribes of the Azgher, consisting of men, women, and children, followed us as far as Tajetterat to see what they could get from the Christians.  When they arrived at the wells, to their great disappointment we were gone.  Some of them were nearly naked, having only a piece of leather round their loins.  Our sending for an escort from Mourzuk seems to have aroused the whole country; all these poor wretches expected, at least, a little hamsa from the Christians, who were reported to have a long train of camels laden with gold and silver, and all sorts of rich goods.  I do not doubt the correctness of this news; it is so perfectly Targhee in its kind:  but the report of sixty maharees pursuing us from the Haghar desert was always doubted by me.