46 SINGULAR CUSTOM. 



as to the weight of, the different boxes, favouritism 

 showing itself in allowing friends to make these 

 surreptitious visits by night also, to determine the 

 choice of loads for their camels. Excuses the next 

 day were also made for our long detention, and 

 assurances that we should certainly start the first 

 propitious day, which was considered to be the 

 next Friday, at the time of the afternoon prayer. 



During the four weeks we had been compelled 

 to reside in Tajourah, few incidents occurred 

 worthy of being recorded. Most of our time we 

 were sitting below in the court, on a rude, cord- 

 bottomed couch, covered with a mat. Close to the 

 ends were placed two large pillows, belonging to 

 Mr. Cruttenden, for us to recline upon; whilst, 

 before us, squatting upon the ground, and 

 ranged along the opposite wall, were generally 

 some of our Dankalli acquaintances, who seemed to 

 be anxious to learn something of our institutions 

 and manners. Discussions upon the Christian 

 religion were very frequent; and they soon were 

 made to understand the difference between us and 

 the Roman Catholic nations, whom they include 

 under one name — Faringee. 



I also became acquainted with a singular mode 

 of descent, or manner in which the power and title 

 of Sultaun is transmitted to the next possessor. It 

 appears that Tajourah is principally inhabited by 

 two subdivisions of the great Adu Allee tribe, the 

 same from whom it has been asserted the Abyssinian 



