18 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXVIII. 
four large alam or ensigns of the sheikh, and the four 
smaller ones of the musketeers, and then a numerous 
body of horsemen. 
This cavalcade of the sheikh's now joined the other 
troops, and the whole body proceeded in the direction 
of Dawerghu to a distance of about a mile from the 
town. Here the sheikh's tent was pitched, consisting 
of a very large cupola of considerable dimensions, 
with blue and white stripes, and curtains, the one half 
white and the other red ; the curtains were only half 
closed. In this tent the sheikh himself, the vizier, and 
the first courtiers were praying, while the numerous 
body of horsemen and men on foot were grouped 
around in the most picturesque and imposing variety. 
Meanwhile I made the round of this interest- 
ing scene, and endeavoured to count the various 
groups. In their numbers I was certainly disap- 
pointed, as I had been led to expect myriads. At 
the very least, however, there were 3000 horsemen, 
and from 6000 to 7000 armed men on foot, the latter 
partly with bow and arrow. There were besides a 
great multitude of spectators. The ceremony did 
not last long ; and as early as nine o'clock the ganga 
summoned all the chiefs to mount, and the dense mass 
of human beings began to disperse and range them- 
selves in various groups. They took their direction 
round the north-western corner of the east town, and 
entered the latter by the western gate; but the 
crowd was so great that I chose to forego taking 
leave of the sheikh, and went slowly back over the 
