36 



CHAPTER III. 



Reception in Tajourabv — Arrangements for our stay.- — Occupation. 

 ■ — Amusements. — Geological character of the country. — Engag- 

 ing camels for the journey. — Customs of the townspeople.' — 

 Public buildings. — Religious ceremonies, law, and justice. 



I joined Mr. Cruttenden at the house of the Sul- 

 taun, being directed on my way by a party of little 

 slave children, who formed a rather troublesome 

 train, as they kept importuning me for buttons and 

 beads. The younger girls and infants, however, 

 could not by any inducement be prevailed upon to 

 come near me ; and what with the shouting 

 plaguing boys, who followed behind, and the 

 screaming flying children before me, I began to 

 think myself more of a curiosity than I had before 

 believed myself to be. 



The Sultaun of Tajourah with considerable polite- 

 ness placed us, immediately on our arrival, in pos- 

 session of the elevated cabin before mentioned, and 

 the room below, and then left us to hasten forward 

 the preparation of a meal, consisting of boiled rice, 

 which was soon after brought in. It was placed 

 before us in a large saucer-like dish, with a quantity 

 of milk in a curious kind of basket, made of the 



