INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 133 
from the eastward ; and one of the drivers, to whom Ali had 
lent my horse, came into my hut with the leg of an antelope 
as a present, and told me that my horse w^as standing befare 
Ali's tent. In a little time Ali sent one of his slaves to in- 
form me, that, in the afternoon, I must be in readiness to 
ride out with him, as he intended to shew me to some of his 
women. 
About four o'clock, Ali, with six of his courtiers, came riding 
to my hut, and told me to follow them. I readily complied. But 
here a new difficulty occurred: the Moors, accustomed to a 
loose and easy dress, could not reconcile themselves to the ap- 
pearance of my nankeen breeches, which they said were not only 
inelegant, but, on account of their tightness, very indecent; and 
as this was a visit to ladies, Ali ordered my boy to bring out the 
loose cloak which I had always worn since my arrival at Be- 
nowm, and told me to wrap it close round me. We visited the 
tents of four different ladies, at every one of which I was 
presented with a bowl of milk and water. All tliese ladies 
were remarkably corpulent, which is considered here as the 
highest mark of beauty. Tiiey were very inquisitive, and exa- 
mined my hair and skin with great attention; but affected 
to consider me as a sort of inferior being to themselves, 
and would knit their brows, and seem to shudder, when they 
looked at the whiteness of my skin. In the course of this even- 
ing's excursion, my dress and appearance afforded infinite 
mirth to the company, who galloped round me as if they were - 
baiting a wild animal; twirling their muskets round their 
