It may be as well to remind the reader that Ghat is a small town which has grown up in the territory of the Azgher Tuaricks, in consequence of the convenience of the place as a station for the caravans from Soudan Proper, and other points of Central Africa.  It is inhabited principally by people of Moorish origin, but mixed and known as Ghateen.  Haj Ahmed, the governor, is also a Moor, born at Tuat.  He is a marabout, or saint, but is looked up to by the people for the settlement of all municipal concerns.  The Ghateen derive their subsistence almost entirely from the caravans, although their little oasis is not unfertile.

But the political authority of the country resides entirely in the hands of the Azgher Tuaricks.  Azgher is the name of the tribe or nation, and Tuarick is a generic title, which scarcely implies even community of origin, assumed by nearly all the wandering people of the Sahara.  There are the Haghar Tuaricks, to the west of Ghat and south-west towards Timbuctoo; and the corresponding people of Aheer are called the Kailouee Tuaricks.  At Timbuctoo itself are found the Sorghau Tuaricks.

The chief of the Tuaricks of Ghat is nominally the venerable Shafou, whose son came with Hateetah to escort me from Mourzuk; but the virtual sultanship resides in Khanouhen, the heir-apparent, or son of Shafou’s sister:  for this is the order of succession in Ghat.  Every Tuarick, however, is in some sort a chief, and more or less influence is acquired by age or personal qualities.  The principal men have divided the sources of emolument which the peculiar position of their country supplies them with.  Hateetah claims to afford protection to all private English travellers, and to receive presents from them; another patronises the inhabitants of Tripoli, a third those of Soudan, and so on.  This arrangement enables a visitor to the place to calculate with some certainty about the amount of obligation he incurs.  All the Tuaricks are easily distinguished by their habit of wearing a litham, or muffler, with which they conceal their mouths and all the lower part of their face.  This custom gives them a strangely mysterious appearance.

The house of Haj Ahmed, the governor, to which we were conducted, is situated three parts of a mile from the town, which I did not enter during my stay.  It would not have done to expose myself to the familiar impudence of the people, who had known me during my visit under very different circumstances.  Besides, my time was fully taken up with business matters; so fully, that I scarcely had time even to write one or two brief despatches to Government.

On the morning of our arrival at Ghat all seemed to promise well.  The Governor welcomed us with hospitality, and his slaves unloaded our camels, and quickly conducted us to our apartments.  At noon, although it was Ramadhan time, we received some dishes of meat, with figs, grapes, and molasses—­really a sumptuous repast.  We were not allowed to go out the first day.