Friday, July 8.—Therm. 82°. Felt poorly all day. Dies non.
Saturday, July 9.—Therm. 82°. All are busy to-day in preparing for the káfilah, which is to start for Suweïrah on Monday. Feel far from well. Went to the medicine chest: but find that the least dose disagrees with me. Renewed rumours of wars. The Damánís are anxious for my answer, and I am equally anxious to give one. I know not how things will go on. Am sick of the whole affair, and feel a presentiment that it will be a failure.
Sunday, July 10°.—Therm. 82. Read prayers. The weather is heavy and sultry. This has proved one of the most trying days for the constitution, as the excessive heat has been succeeded by a very cold wind in the evening, and this followed by a most sultry night. All the people are fully occupied in preparing for the káfilah, which is to start to-morrow morning with ivory, gum, &c.; I find that the ivory sells here at seventy mitcal the canter, while at Mogador it brings sixty dollars: the quantity of it is enormous. Felt very poorly all day, and did not go out.
Monday, July 11.—Therm. 84°. All has been bustle to-day. The káfilah had hardly started, when the two hundred horse arrived. They came to hold a conference about going to war with a neighbouring tribe, as one of the Sheïkh’s friends had been killed by a Marabout of that people: after a long consultation, it was agreed, that as the Marabout was non compos, there could be no intention of an insult, and thus instead of a fight we had a feast. The Damánís are preparing to be off, as my answer is expected to-morrow. I fear I must give all the money: it is an anxious time for me. There is a great talk about my long stay, and some of the Shilhah[114] people are not over civil. The Sheïkh, poor man, is desirous to pay me every attention; but he is fearful of enforcing a proper authority over these people. Money is his curse, and he is avarice personified. The heat is excessive.
Tuesday, July 12.—Therm. 84°. The heat is beyond every thing to-day; the sun literally scorches: all are gasping. The slaves are lying about. The Arabs say, that in the Sahrá on such a day, twenty draughts of water would not quench the thirst. It is one of the hot winds. I have been walking for more than two hours to the astonishment of the natives. Evening came, but no post. The heat still tremendous. I have been drinking tea for more than an hour, and am still thirsty. Sent out again respecting the Spanish slaves: hope to get the poor fellows. There has been a slight quarrel between the Sheïkh and his son; but matters are, I suppose, now made up, as the son came to pray in his father’s room. Some ostrich marrow was sent to me to purchase, but I will not buy it without some eggs. Patients are beginning to be troublesome again. I feel myself somewhat better than yesterday.
Wednesday, July 13.—Therm. 86°. Symptoms of summer. Am looking most anxiously for the post. The Damánís have all left, except Mohammed and Hámed, who are waiting for Mr. Willshire’s answer. I gave them a present which cost me thirty-nine ducats: they were highly pleased, and so was the Sheïkh. At three P.M. the thermometer under the colonnade was at 100°, and though there is a breeze, the sun is scorching. All are done up. As there was no post, I was in very bad spirits, and went early to rest: hope to get a little sleep.
Thursday, July 14.—Therm. 84°. To-day all are done up and out of temper, with the exception of Abú. The heat is excessive; we are all stripped to our shirts. Evening brought a cooling breeze, and this brought back our spirits. I was obliged to lie down early, oozing at every pore. Despite my little food, and the great heat, have picked up most of my lost flesh. Am in great anxiety for the post; it has not arrived to-day; if it does not come to-morrow, I shall suspect something has gone wrong.
Friday, July 15.—Therm. 84°. Dies non. Out of health, spirits and temper. No post.
Saturday, July 16.—Therm. 84°. Felt very poorly; kept my bed. Getting out of all patience, as no post has arrived. Am in great anxiety about my watch and letters from England. All this is owing to the villain Majíbí.
Sunday, July 17.—Therm. 86°. Passed a bad night: was up early and went out to bathe. Read the prayers. Was in hopes of the post arriving at the usual time: disappointed. Sent Abú to the market, who brought nothing I could eat; there was no fruit or vegetables. I cannot manage the kuskusú. Received a present of six bunches of grapes from a poor slave boy, to whom I had given some medicines; he had walked out to meet the people coming to market, and had bought all they had. Sent a present of a loaf of sugar to the beautiful Jewess by Abú, together with three bunches of the grapes, to ask if she could make me a pie; for which there is no name in Arabic. I cannot go to the Leïlá myself, but have been promised something as near to Abú’s directions as she can make it. I would have done it at home, but Abú is a bad cook. As the grapes were very sour, I mashed up two bunches with milk and sugar, and fancied it gooseberry-fool; contrived, however, to make a meal of it; the only one I have had for many days. I intended to take a ride, but the heat was greater than I had ever felt. At two P.M. the thermometer in the sun was at 141°. It fell one degree at a quarter-past three P.M. and did not sink below 138° till half-past five P.M. I was obliged to cover the stirrups and kummiyahs,[115] and all metal articles, with pieces of háïk: the stirrups were too hot to be handled. The horses and cattle are all suffering; yet there is a strong wind from the N.W., but it is blowing fire. Mohammed tells me that on the E. of the mountains, which shut out this wind, it is impossible to face the hot wind. All here are astonished at my being able to stand it; there is no fear of me; I am living too low to take any harm. My fear is not that my stomach will go, but my head. Still no post. All are in anxiety. A cold current of air is passing over us. At nine P.M. the moon and stars are shooting with a peculiar glare, such as I have often witnessed here after great heat. At ten P.M. the heat returned, and nearly suffocated us. I dread the night—being half destroyed by the vermin. Am very anxious for to-morrow.