i8 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
all fides by defert land. It was about half an hour from the 
time of our entrance on this territory, by a path furrounded 
with date trees, that we came to the town, which gives name 
to the difl:ri£t. We difmounted, and feated ourfelves, as is ' 
ufual for ftrangers in this country, on a misjed^ or place ufed 
for prayer, adjoining the tomb of a Mar abut ^ or holy perfon. 
In a fhort time the chiefs came to congratulate us on our arrival, 
with the grave but fimple ceremony that is in general ufe among 
the Arabs. They then conduced us to an apartment, which, 
though not very commodious, was the beft they were provided 
with ; and after a fhort interval, a large difh of rice and fome 
boiled meat were brought ; the Shechs attending while the com- 
pany was ferved, which confifted of my interpreter, our con- 
dudor, two other Bedouins our companions, and myfelf. 
I fhould here mention that my attendants, finding reafon to 
fear that the reception of a Frank, as fuch, would not be very 
favourable, had thought proper to make me pafs for a Mamluk. 
Not having had any intimation of this till it was too late, and 
unable as I then was to converfe in Arabic, it was almoft im- 
poffible to remain undifcovered. Our arrival happening before 
the evening prayer, when the people of the place difpofed them- 
felves to devotion, in the obfervance of which they are very 
rigorous, it was remarked that I did not join. This alone was 
fufficient to create fufpicions, and the next morning my inter- 
preter was obliged to explain. The Shechs feemed furprifed at 
a Chriftian having penetrated thus far, with fome expence and 
difficulty, and apparently without having any urgent bufinefs 
to tranfa<3;. But all, except one of theni, were difpofed to con- 
ciliation: 
