100 
EL- ARAWAN. 
stands on three supports of twisted wood. For drawing up 
the water they use a rope made of straw, first damped and 
beaten and afterwards twisted. Though water when kept in 
the houses is always exposed to a current of air, it is inva- 
riably warm, and consequently very disagreeable for drinking. 
Many Moors and negroes, impelled by curiosity, 
followed me in the streets. Some asked for snuff ; in vain 
did I assure them that I had none, and never used any, 
they would not relinquish the attack, and they called me 
christian as the greatest insult they could offer me. 
Their vociferations were accompanied by threatening ges- 
tures. I began to fear that I should lose my temper, and 
that the affair might become serious. I hastened back to my 
lodging, into which my assailants followed me. An old 
Moor took pity on me, and reproached them for their be- 
haviour, assuring them that I was a Musulman and a 
stranger, and under the protection of Kalif, who would be 
indignant at my being ill treated. He finally succeeded in 
dispersing them. 
I found a great difference between the inhabitants of 
this place and those of Timbuctoo, where I had been well 
received by the Moors. The people of El-Arawan, on the 
other hand, looked upon me with suspicion. They could not 
believe, that after having passed my youth among the chris- 
tians, I should voluntarily forsake their customs and resume 
those of my kindred. Fortunately for me, some old men 
more zealous, or credulous, than the rest, declared that God 
would support me in the way of salvation, since he had 
inspired me with so astonishing a resolution. They added 
in Arabic, ^* Let us thank God, that he has returned 
among us." 
These disagreeable occurrences induced me to appear 
more zealous than hitherto. I went regularly to the mosque, 
but, when I prostrated myself, like the disciples of the pro- 
phet, I offered up fervent prayers to God, thus endeavouring 
