AROUND THE NECKS OF BEDOUINS. 377 



people, but for the relief and comfort the skin 

 receives from unctuous substances, when liable to 

 exposure under a burning sun, and which has 

 dictated the employment, of this natural and 

 constant supply of grease, in the manner I have 

 described. 



One afternoon I was again treated with an 

 extempore song, a method of expressing their 

 feelings which appears to afford great pleasure to 

 the Dankalli. I was sitting on the ground at the 

 entrance of my hut, thinking upon past scenes and 

 pleasures, at the same time humming a favourite 

 old tune. This attracted the attention of 

 Moosa, who, with the large wooden packing-needle 

 they use for sewing the palm-leaf salt-bags, was 

 mending my mule's head-gear, two straps of which 

 had got broken. Ejecting, with averted head, a 

 great quantity of tobacco juice from his mouth far 

 upon the sand, he began a low muttering song, 

 which was soon joined in by Carmel Ibrahim, who 

 lay in a neighbouring bush, Carmel, as usual, 

 introducing my name, and exciting considerable 

 mirth among the listeners who gathered around, 

 but their merriment was as far as possible from 

 being of a disrespectful character. 



Every evening ball-playing amused the greater 

 part of the Kafilah people, and the loud shouts on 

 the Wahama side told of their being also engaged 

 in the same noisy busy game. It was rather too 

 boisterous for me to join, though I was often 



