EASY FAST. 
473 
1824. Then 1 had no shelter but a tent, whilst now, I was 
protected from the heat of the sun, in a coqI well-aired house ; 
so that I did not suffer much from thirst. At sun-set, a 
beverage, made of tamarinds, was brought to me, and, after- 
wards another, made of honey and sour milk, strained and 
dried in the sun, forming a kind of very hard cheese, whicli 
the Moors, who are fond of it, bring to Jenn^, They 
reduce it to powder, and mix it with their drink. On the 
following days, a sort of pudding was brought to me, made 
of very white flour, mixed with a few tamarinds ; so that I 
could patiently wait until supper was ready. 
About eight in the evening, an enormous mess of rice, 
boiled with mutton was brought to me. In the course of the 
day, I had expressed a wish to buy some milk, for the 
purpose of mixing it with water, to drink in the night; but 
I could not get any at the market. However, about ten at 
night, the Haggi-Mohammed, sent me a good quantity of 
milk and also, a candle to light me at my repast. About 
one in the morning, I was supplied with a breakfast as 
abundant as the supper of the previous evening. 
I soon found an advantage in this change of habits ; for 
I was much better served in the night time than I had hitherto 
been in the day. Nothing could be easier than this kind of 
abstinence, which merely consisted in sitting up a little later 
than usual for the purpose of making a hearty meal, and 
sleeping away the hours devoted to abstinence. The slaves are 
obliged to observe the fast, but they, as well as their masters 
make ample amends in the night for their privations during 
the day. 
On the 20th, I determined to make a present of my 
umbrella to the sherif. I thought it but right to do so, as he 
was to procure me a conveyance by water to Timbuctoo. He 
appeared highly pleased with the present. I thought that 
the Haggi-Mohammed was already sufficiently rewarded by 
