Chap. LXXVII. MORALS OF KE'l E' SU^K. 199 
From all that I observed, I must conclude that the 
state of the morals of these Tawarek slaves is very 
low, particularly those of the Kel e' Siik. The latter 
were formerly the inhabitants of fixed settlements 
on the borders of the desert, where a great deal of 
foreign commerce centred, and have thence con- 
tracted manners which were strange to their origin. 
But we must remember that from the most ancient 
times prostitution, as a proof of hospitality, has been 
in practice among various Berber tribes of North 
Africa. 
Having staid here during the forenoon, Wednesday, 
we started late in the day. My protector '^^''^ ■^^^^* 
remained behind in order to settle some business, 
while I proceeded in advance with the most trust- 
worthy of his pupils, first keeping close along the 
river, which here seemed to be of considerable depth 
quite near the shore, but further on turning away to 
some distance from it, through the plain, which was 
here well clad with small talha trees. Thus, after a 
march of about four miles from our former encamp- 
ment, we ascended sandy downs, behind which a 
broad belt of swampy meadow ground stretched 
along at a distance of more than two miles from the 
river itself. The higher level soon became more 
rocky, being strewn with black pebbles, between which 
numerous footprints of the giraffe were visible. It 
was pleasantly undulating, a ledge of sandstone and 
calcareous rock intersecting it like a wall. Having 
o 4 
