TATT A. 
15i 
seat beside me : he put several questions relative to the cus- 
toms of christian countries, and then withdrew. 
On the 4th of July, after taking leave of my generous 
host, I returned to Aly's camp. On the road I met two 
women, whose conversation amused me a little. They begged 
me to write charms, one to make her husband who intended 
to quit her change his mind ; another to procure a husband 
for a young woman who wished to marry : they offered me 
money in exchange, but warned me, laughing, that they 
should pay nothing till my charms had taken effect. This 
conversation made the walk pleasant, and beguiled the length 
of the way. 
We arrived at the camp : the blacksmith, to whose tent 
I often went to sleep, was preparing to transport two car- 
goes of ivory to Tatta ; I perceived that he paid dues to the 
Berbers to travel through the country in safety. On making 
inquiries concerning the place to which they were going, I 
learnt that Tatta is a large town situated five days' journey 
to the N. W. of our camp : the route leads through the 
town of Brahihima, which is two days' journey from the 
camp. The goods taken to Tatta are dispatched thence by 
the merchants of Soueyrah (Cape Mogador.) 
On the 6th of July, the wife of Sidi-Aly, who till then, 
like the rest of the family had given me tokens of ill-will 
accosted me in a very affable tone, and requested a saphi 
for bad eyes* promising me that if I effected a cure, she 
would give me every thing I wished. To get quit of her I 
gave her one immediately, and she received it with gratitude. 
I refused her money, but accepted with pleasure a little 
milk which she offered me. After some days, the impatient 
Mariam (that was her name) seeing that my amulet did not 
operate, reproached me bitterly, saying that my skill was no 
greater than that of the priests. Knowing from her hus- 
band that I had some medicaments, she asked me for 
physic, which embarrassed me greatly, as I was fearful of 
