80 
TRAVELS m AFRICA. 
Chap. LXXII. 
almost as a member of the family ; next followed 
Hammadi, who greeted me and received my com- 
pliments in return ; then the Sheikh el Bakay ; and, 
lastly, 'Abidin, whom I had not seen before. He 
looked rather older than the Sheikh, with expressive 
sharply cut and manly features, besides a rather 
fair complexion, fairer than my host. He was clad 
in a bernus of violet colour, and it appeared re- 
markable to me that, although I had placed myself 
exclusively under the protection of his brother, to 
whom he as well as Hammadi was vehemently opposed, 
yet he behaved very friendly towards me. 
All the parties having assembled, we were regaled 
with a luncheon, at which I was the first to be helped. 
The people then having said their prayers of aser," 
while I retired behind the sepulchre, in order not to 
give any offence, we went to a greater distance 
from the town, in an easterly direction, in order to 
get out of the way of the people who had come from 
the town on this occasion, when the various members of 
the family of Mukhtdr sat down upon the ground in 
a circle, and began a serious private consultation, in 
order to settle their political affairs ; but, although it 
lasted for more than an hour, it did not seem to lead 
to the desired end, and broke up abruptly. The 
Sheikh had endeavoured to persuade me to pass this 
night in the A'beraz, or the suburb of the town; 
but this I had refused to do, being afraid of causing 
another disturbance, and, as he promised that he would 
come out of the town with my luggage on the Friday 
