THE MOSQUES. 53 



of the Dankalli ; but these, it seems, were some- 

 times made of alabaster, and covered with hiero- 

 glyphics. 



The principal mosque of the place stood at the 

 further end of a large open space, reaching to the 

 sea-shore, in the centre of which was the solitary 

 cannon used as a saluting battery on particular 

 occasions, and the touchhole of which vied in 

 extent with the bore of the piece. Occupying one 

 side of the open space was the square enclosure of 

 mats, with little huts of the same material, which 

 had been erected for the use of the English agent 

 in Tajourah, Mr. Hatchetoor, on the occasion of 

 the last kahla, or second division of the stores, 

 being sent up to Shoa with Messieurs Bernadtz and 

 Scott. Here, during one night, three of the native 

 servants were treacherously murdered as they lay 

 asleep, by some of the inhabitants of the town. 

 On the other side were a few native houses, stand- 

 ing in the usual compounds, or courts, and out of 

 the doors of which peeped, with a mixture of 

 curiosity and alarm, several little slave children 

 whenever we passed by. 



This mosque stood between the commencement 

 of two narrow lanes, the one leading through the 

 town, the other to the Sultaun's house, and completed 

 the third side of the irregular square, which was 

 open towards the sea. The mosque was built in a 

 square form, with the un trimmed branches of trees, 

 as they were cut off in the jungle, and thatched 



