Chai». XXXVII. 
A WANDERING TKIBE. 
545 
from an interesting cause, a whole village or u beri" 
of wandering Arabs passing through in search of 
fresh pasture- grounds to the west. Each mistress of 
a family was sitting on the top of her best household 
furniture, which was carefully packed on the backs 
of the cattle, and covered with hides, while a female 
slave followed her, sitting astride on the less valuable 
gear and the poles with pots and other such utensils ; 
but, distinguished above all by the harness of her 
bullock, the neat arrangement of her seat, a leather 
tent-like covering over her head, and the stoutness 
of her own person, sat the wife of the chief. Most 
of these women, however, were rather slender than 
otherwise, testifying to the sound and well-preserved 
national taste of these Arabs. They never veil the 
face, and their dress is simple and decent ; but they 
are not nearly so tidy as the Fulfiilde ladies. Most 
of the men followed at a great distance with the 
flocks of goats and sheep. 
When this interesting procession had passed by, 
the monotony of the country was more intensely felt. 
The proud Kaniiri of the towns mock the inhabitants 
of these districts, who have nothing but a few cattle 
and goats, with the verse: " Semma billani — beri 
kani " (" This is the whole of my town — cattle and 
goats;" or, in other words, "The town and moat, 
two cows and a goat"). The poor stunted mimosas 
had been cut down in many places, in order that 
the whole tract being changed into a quagmire or 
VOL. II. N K 
