xxiv INTRODUCTION. 



between London and Oxford, were at Tunis totally un- 

 known. Doctor Shaw has given the lituation of the place, 

 without faying one word about any thing curious it con- 

 tains. 



From Dugga I continued the upper road to KefF*, for- 

 merly called Sicca Venerea, or Venerea ad Siccam, through 

 the pleafant plains inhabited by the Welled Yagoube. I 

 then proceeded to Hydra, the Thunodrunum f of the an- 

 cients. This is a frontier place between the two kingdoms 

 of Algiers and Tunis, as Keffis alfo. It is inhabited by a tribe 

 of Arabs, whofe chief is a marabout, or faint ; they are 

 called Welled Sidi Boogannim, the " fons of the father of 

 flocks." 



These Arabs are immenfely rich, paying no tribute ei- 

 ther to Tunis or Algiers. The pretence for this exemption 

 is a very fingular one. By the inflitution of their founder, 

 they are obliged to live upon lions nefh. for their daily 

 food, as far as they can procure it ; with this they flrictly 

 comply, and, in confideration of the utility of this their vow, 

 they are not taxed, like the other Arabs, with payments to 

 the Hate. The confequence of this life is, that they are ex- 

 cellent and well-armed horfemen, exceedingly bold and 

 undaunted hunters. It is generally imagined, indeed, that 

 thefe confiderations, and that of their lituation on the fron- 

 tier, have as much influence in procuring them exemption 

 from taxes, as the utility of their vow. 



3 There 



* Val. Max. lib. ii. cap. 6. § 15. f Ptol. Geog. lib. W. 



