EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 291 
The difpofition of the people of Fur has appeared to me 
more cheerful than that of the Egyptians ; and that gravity and 
referve which the precepts of Mohammedifm infpire, and the 
practice of the greater number of its profeflbrs countenances 
and even requires, feems by no means as yet to fit eafy on 
them. A government perfedlly defpotic, and at this time not 
ill adminiftered, as far as relates to the manners of the people, 
yet forms no adequate reftraint to their violent paffions *. Prone 
to inebriation, but unprovided with materials or ingenuity to 
prepare any other fermented liquor than bu%a, with this alone 
their convivial excefies are committed. But though the Sultan 
hath juft publifhed an ordinance (March 1795) forbidding the 
ufe of that liquor under pain of death, the plurality, though 
kfs publicly than before, ftill indulge themfelves in it. A com- 
pany often fits from fun-rife to fun-fet drinking and converfmg, 
till a fmgle man fometimes carries off near two gallons of that 
liquor. The buza has however a diuretic and diaphoretic ten- 
dency, which precludes any danger from thefe exceffes. 
In this country dancing is pradifed by the men as well as 
the women, and they often dance promifcuoufly. Each tribe 
feems to have its appropriate dance : that of Fur is called Secon- 
dart, that of Bukkara Bendala. Some are grave, others lafci- 
vious, but confifting rather of violent efforts than of graceful 
* The inhabitants of a village called Bernoo, having quarrelled vi'ith thofe of 
another hamlet, and fome having been killed on both fides, all the property of 
both villages v/zs forfeited to the king, the inhabitants being abandoned to 
poverty. 
p p 2 motions. 
