Is it bad that I initially thought you were receiving these on your mobile phone?

Laura, you're not the only one. I thought this was going to be analysis of textspeak as it occurs in Timbuktu. :-)

Hm, what an interesting coincidence, since I happen to have Heinrich Barth's account of his travels sitting next to me. (He spelled his name Barth, not Bart, and his journey through Africa took place 1849-1855, not 'eighteenth century' as the exhibition text says.) However, I can't find a mention of the incident in question, since the book lacks an index. I'll post again if I find it.

Thanks! I'll add corrections to the entry.