When there was no more to be bought from this man, I turned to his companion.
His costume differed little from the other, so I did not trouble about it, but on the wrist of his left hand was an embroidered leather ring, and the same hand grasped the hilt of a dagger (tilek).
The Tuareg always carry one of these in the left sleeve, so disposed that the point is turned up the sleeve, whilst the sheath lies along under the forearm, and is secured by a sewn band which is slipped over the wrist. The handle of the dagger is cross-shaped and bound with brass wire. The dagger is therefore, very evidently and literally, handy.
I bought it and a large leather bag (agherid), made apparently of antelope or gazelle hide. Through holes on the edges of the bag were drawn leather thongs, which again were made fast with a very peculiar iron lock. This is the only lockfast receptacle owned by the Tuareg, for they rarely possess even a chest (senduk), as do the Arabs.
Of other weapons they had none, though the Tuareg generally carry spears, but rarely swords, bows and arrows, or shields.
Next I bought one of their light smart saddles for riding the dromedary (mehari). The saddle has a broad cantle at the back, and that in front, though narrower, is also high and terminates in a cross.
The cross is often found in Tuareg ornaments, and, as I show by an illustration in my book called Algiers and the Sahara, is supposed to be a relic of the time when this people were Christians and inhabited the more northern regions whence they were driven by the Arabs.
All the wearing apparel that I purchased was, according to the vendors’ account, manufactured by Tuareg or brought from the Sudan.
The price of each article was named in piastres, and the interpreter having added up the total, I paid in francs, without the Tuareg overlooking the account, their trust in the interpreter being so entire. A sign of their confidence in the French.
M. Grosset-Grange told me that these two Tuareg examined all that was novel to them just like children. That when they entered his room they at first stood dumfoundered, then touched and examined everything. The system by which the window was closed and bolted was carefully investigated, and pleased them much. The handle of the bolt chanced to be decorated with the representation of a man’s head, and the Tuareg naïvely asked, “Is that your father?”