448 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. LXVII. 
unity to the whole of the festive arrangements, the 
ceremonies exhibited no striking features, and the 
whole went off very tamely, only small parties of from 
six to ten persons forming groups for joining in 
prayer, while the whole procession comprised scarcely 
more than thirty horses. 
After my fever had abated for a day or two it 
returned with greater violence on the 17th, and I 
felt at times extremely unwell and very weak, and in 
my feverish state was less inclined to bear with tran- 
quillity and equanimity all the exactions and contri- 
butions levied upon me by Sidi Alawate. We had a 
thunder-storm almost every day, followed now and 
then by a tolerable quantity of rain ; the greatest fall 
of rain, according to the information which I was 
able to gather, annually occurring during the month 
of September, a phenomenon in entire harmony with 
the northerly latitude of the place. This humidity, 
together with the character of the open hall in which 
I used to pass the night as well as the day, increased 
my indisposition not a little ; but the regard for my 
security did not allow me to seek shelter in the store- 
room wherein I had placed my luggage, and which, 
being at the back of the hall, was well protected 
against cold, and, as it seemed at least, even against 
wet. For, not to speak of the oppressive atmosphere 
and almost total darkness which prevailed in that 
close place, in taking up my residence there I should 
have exposed myself to the danger of a sudden 
attack, while from the hall where I was staying I 
