coast, having first been boiled; it is rancid and in a' liquid state; but it is esteemed a great dainty. Suet, salted and boiled, is also brought from the same places. People who can afford it mix great quantities of butter and red pepper in all their food; a quart of butter is sometimes poured over the doughy mess of one man.

In quality of physician, I was desired to attend the children of the Sultan, and I saw two of his daughters, one of three years old, the other of a year and a half, who were literally laden with gold. Each of the Sultan's sons has a troop of slaves, about his own age, who constantly attend him, and are his playmates, under due subjection; few among those who wait upon the youngest boy are more than five years old. One is the bearer of his master's burnoose, two carry each a slipper, and the procession is closed by one who is tottering under the weight of his musket.

I saw at Mourzouk a pair of silver fetters, for the ancles of a lady, which weighed 128 ounces. Both men and women have a custom of wearing in their nóstrils a twisted leaf of onion or clover. Lice on their persons are universal; and to be skilled in the art of catching them is a recommendation to a female slave on sale.

Landed property is possessed by individuals, and may be transferred at their pleasure. It ge nerally descends to the nearest relations; but if the owner die without heirs, or be put to death for any alledged crime, it becomes the property of the Sultan. Gardens are divided into squares of about three feet, with little channels between them for the purpose of irrigation. * In some places the ground is allowed to drink," that is

to be completely flooded. Much dung is used, and in old gardens the sandy soil of the country has nearly the appearance of mould. Thus man, where he can find water, can create fertility.

The military force may, on an emergency, amount to 5,000 men. It is composed of Arabs; for the Fezzaners are considered as too pusillanimous to be trusted; if they do not fight, however, they are obliged to support those who do. The military achievements are limited to an annual expedition into the negro countries, to procure slaves.

If a murder be committed by a person or persons unknown, the town or district in which the body is found is compelled to pay a fine of 2,000 dollars to the Sultan. If the murderer be afterwards discovered, he escapes punishment, compensation for the crime having already been made. The Sheik of Sockna was found one night with his throat cut; and Mukni, who alone was supposed guilty of the deed, extorted 2,000 dollars from the inhabitants of the town.

The current money of Fezzan is the Spanish dollar. Smaller payments are made in corn. Three gallons of corn, or forty-eight of dates, are commonly worth a dollar.

Falsehood is not considered odious, unless it be detected; and, when employed in trading, the Fezzaners affirm that it is allowed by the Koran, for the benefit of merchants.

A Fezzan proverb says, "Give a Mourzoukowi your finger, and he will beg, first the elbow, and then the shoulder-bone, as keepsakes

The language of Fezzan is the Arabic. The Psalms, the Pentateuch, the Books of Solomon, are universally known and reverenced. An Ara

bie translation of the New Testament, which I had with me, was eagerly read, and the only exceptions made to it were, that Christ was called the Son of God, and that St. Paul had omitted to announce the coming of Muhamed, which these people believe was foretold by our Saviour, and erased by the Apostle, There are in Mourzouk a few copies of some of the Thousand and One Tales; and the Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor, are as fully accredited as the Koran itself, .

The following is a translation of a song of the Arabs of Fezzan :

Here I am, well mounted on a horse whose ears are like pens, who runs like an antelope, and knows none but his master. My new red cap becomes me well, my sword is sharp, my pistols are well cleaned, and my belt shines in the sun, As the heart of a pigeon beats when she is robbed of her young, so will the heart of my love beat for me when she sees me. She will not allow the dog to bark, and she will leave the tent as if in search of wood. If her kinsmen see her with me, she shall not remain under their displeasure; I will lift her on my horse, and fly with her; for my steed has ears like pens, he runs like an antelope, and knows none but his master. My new red cap becomes me well, my sword is sharp, my pistols are well cleaned, and my belt shines in the sun.”

The soul of the Arab appears in these lines. Like a European lover, he derives some consequence from his new red cap; but his horse and his arms are his pride, and his gallantry consists in carrying off the lady by force.

1

Mourzouk is in latitude 25° 54′ north, longitude 15° 52′ east...

From the 4th of May to the 17th, the thermometer, at two o'clock in the afternoon, was from 101 to 110 degrees. From the 17th of May to the 12th of June, it was at the same hour, from 113o to nearly 129. The highest it ever reached was August the 11th and September the 1st, when it was at 133°.

IN July many parties of Tuarick from Kashna, Agades, and Graat, came to Mourzouk, with slaves and merchandise. They were tall, straight, and handsome, and had an air of independence and pride. Their skin, where kept covered, was as white as that of many Europeans; where exposed to the sun it was of a dark brown. On their faces they wore a cotton covering, which descended from the middle of the nose to the breast. They gave no other reason for this custom than that their fathers did so; but their fathers probably did so to prevent their inhaling the sand of the deserts. Many of these people wore shirts and kaftans of the skins of antelopes, well prepared, and neatly sewed together. Their sandals were of black leather, curiously embroidered on the inside of the sole, and fastened to the feet with scarlet thongs. Each man carried a whip, a sword, a dagger, a light elegant spear, and generally a musket. The spear was sometimes of iron, inlaid with brass, and

sometimes of wood, highly ornamented. They never salute by kissing the hand; not even that of the Sultan of Fezzan, but they take his hand and shake it; and then retire, holding themselves erect, and looking him steadily in the face. Their language is the Berebber, the original tongue of northern Africa, and they believe it was spoken by Noah. Their religion is that of Muhamed; but their knowledge of the Prophet and his language is limited to La Allah ila Allah Shed wa Muhamed Rassuls Allah: There is no God but God, and bear witness that Muhamed is the Prophet of God.

Some of the tribes of the Tuarick are constantly at war with the states of Soudan, and are much dreaded by the black men. The tribe nearest to Fezzan is that of Graat, a walled town, ten days from Mourzouk, seven west by south from Sebha, twenty east from Gadames, and twenty from Tuat Graat is built partly on a plain, and partly on the side of a steep hill. The Sheik of Graat is called Sultan, and receives a revenue from the settled inhabitants, who are called Gratia; but the Tuarick are, in general, wanderers, and pay him no homage. There is annually at Graat a great market, to which traders resort from Soudan, Fezzan, Gadames, and other countries; and all pay a duty which is called safety money, to the Tuarick. The people of Graat have little corn of their own; but they procure it from Mourzouk, in exchange for slaves, gold, and other articles. Five or six miles from Graat is a walled town called El Berkaat, famous for the quantity and excellence of the grapes produced in its vicinity. The Gratia al low strangers to converse with their wives and daughters; they are said to be fat and handsome, but modest.

1