MEMOIR OF BURCKHARDT. 87 



one time about a dozen of these false lakes round 

 us, each separate from the other, and for the most 

 part in the low grounds." 



The people of Berber are a handsome race, hav- 

 ing nothing of the Negro features about them ; but 

 their manners are extremely licentious. They all 

 drink to excess of louza, an intoxicating liquor, 

 which they call om bullul, or the mother of the 

 nightingale, because it makes the drunkard sing. 

 At these scenes of debauchery, quarrels frequently 

 occur, and generally end in wounds or slaughter. 

 " Nobody," says Burckhardt, " goes to a Bouza 

 without taking his sword (or a knife) with him, 

 and the girls are often the first sufferers in the 

 fray." This description of character is applicable 

 in every respect to the inhabitants of Shendey, who 

 are equally dissipated. Their occupation is chiefly 

 commerce ; and they carry on a flourishing trade 

 with Egypt, Sennaar, and Arabia; their principal 

 commodities being spiceries, drugs, articles of hard- 

 ware, and slaves. 



Their cattle is of a fine breed, but they are much 

 exposed to the ravages of wild animals. The tiger 

 and the giraffe are often met with; the latter is 

 hunted by the Arabs, and is chiefly prized for its 

 skin, of which the strongest bucklers are made. 

 There is a species of wild goat which are caught in 

 nooses, in the same manner as they catch ostriches. 

 The hippopotami occasionally make their appear- 

 ance ; they seldom rise above water in the day-time, 

 but come on shore at night, destroying as much 



