COMMUNICATIONS, 
95 
number, had fliort curly black hair, thick lips, flat broad nofes, 
and a dark^^ fkin, which, either from their habitual naftinefs, the 
vermin with which they are covered, or tlie natural ranknefs of 
their perfpiration, emits the moft naufeous and fetid effluvia. 
They are tall, but not ilrong ; well fhaped, yet indolent, inactive, 
and weak ; and though the Shereef Fouwad is defcribed as 
majeftic in his appearance, yet his countrymen, in general, are 
confidered at Tripoli as a people of remarkable uglinefs. 
In their common intercourfe with each other all diftin(£lions 
of rank appear to be forgotten ; for the Shereef and the loweft 
plebeian, the rich and the poor, the mafter and the man, con- 
verfe familiarly, and eat and drink together. Generous and 
eminently hofpitable, the Fezzanner, let his fare be fcanty or 
abundant, is ever defirous that others fhould partake of his meal; 
and if twenty people fliould unexpeftedly viflt his dwelling, they 
mull all participate as far as it will go. 
When they fettle their money tranfaclions, they fquat down 
upon the ground, and having levelled a fpot with their hands, 
make 
* The people are of a deep fwarthy complexion. 
Ben Alli. 
