90 
MR' LUCAS'S 
price of a quarter of a goat or flieep is from thirty-two to forty 
grains of gold duft, or from four to five fhillings of Englifli mo- 
ney. The flefh of the camel, which is much more highly va- 
lued, is commonly fold at a dearer rate, and is divided into fmaller 
lots. 
The houfes, like thofe of the little villages in the neighbour- 
hood of Tripoli, are built of clay, and are covered with a flat 
roof, that is compofed of the boughs and branches of trees, on 
which a quantity of earth is laid. Inartificial and defe6live as 
this covering appears, it is fuited to the climate : for as rain is ne- 
ver known in Fezzan, the principal requifites of a roof are fliel- 
ter from the dews, and protection from the fun. 
The heats of the Summer, which begins in April and continues 
till November, are fo intenfe, that, from nine in the morning till 
fun-fet, the ftreets are frequented only by the labouring people, 
and even in the houfes refpiration would be difficult, if the ex- 
pedient of wetting the apartments did not furnilli its falutary aid. 
Of this torrid clime the fiercenefs is chiefly felt from the month 
of May to the latter end of Auguft ; during which period, the 
courfe of the wind is ufually from the E. the S. E. the S. or the 
S. W. and though from the two latter points it blows with vio- 
lence, 
