Sept. 24th.—­We had a good deal of wind yesterday, but no appearance of rain.  This morning was fine, clear, and warm; but just after noon a sudden fall of rain came, followed, within five minutes, by a tempest of thunder, lightning, rain, and hail, which broke immediately over our heads, and carried away our small tents.  Even my Bornou tent, having been dried up by the recent weather, admitted the rain, and several of our things were wetted.  The tempest itself did not last more than fifteen or twenty minutes; and by the time the moon rose in the evening, all clouds had cleared away, and the heavens were as pure as in the morning.  I may observe that the rain is less disagreeable to me than the clouds of sand-dust, with which we are at other times persecuted.  The fine particles cover and pervade everything, and getting between the skin and the flannel, produce an irritation like the pricking of needles.

This day Yusuf brought a message from En-Noor, to the effect that he had heard from various people that I had brought a sword for him from the Queen of England, and also a letter from Her Majesty.  He added:  “I trust I have done nothing to offend the Consul or his companions; and I pray that there may be nothing between us but good feeling and justice—­no lying, nothing but truth and fair dealing.”

It now seemed to me that a good opportunity had arrived for introducing the subject of the treaty; and I determined to make an effort, being convinced, from recent transactions between En-Noor and his brother chieftains, that he exerts paramount influence in Aheer; so that it may be of considerable benefit to Christian travellers that a treaty of amity and commerce should be signed by him.  Yusuf therefore prepared a treaty in Arabic, and I one in English.  This done, I caused En-Noor to be informed of our intentions, and, taking with me a sword, went to visit him with some anxiety.

We found the Sultan, in company with half-a-dozen people; he received us in a very friendly manner, and really seemed on this occasion to be what he professes to be, the friend and Consul of the English.  I explained to him, that we certainly had this treaty ready for him, and intended to have presented it to him on our arrival; but on account of our sufferings and the robberies committed on us, and seeing the country in a state of revolution, I had no heart to present to his highness anything from the Queen of England.  However, now that things were more settled, and as I saw there was authority in the country, I had much pleasure in proposing for his signature a treaty from my Government.  At the same moment, as an incentive, I presented the sword (a small naval officer’s sword, with a good deal of polished brass and gilding about it, of the value, at most, of five pounds).  To my great satisfaction, his highness accepted both treaty and present with ardent manifestations of pleasure.  He made me read the document in English, to hear the