PURCHASE OF WIVES. 
327 
be detained, with a peremptory order, that if tliey 
are not immediately given up they are to be seized 
by force, and if not found, other camels are to be 
confiscated instead of them. This may be the first 
effect of the slaughter of the Tibboos. It is quite 
clear, however, that En-Noor is bound in honour to 
recover for us our lost beasts of burden ; their 
detention must otherwise disgrace his authority. 
As soon as a Moor or an Arab gains a little 
money, he begins in the first place to buy a new 
Vfife. The merchants, especially those who tra- 
verse the Sahara, have a wife and an establishment 
at all the principal cities. When they have half-a- 
dozen of these establishments they are then great 
men. Es-Sfaxee has gained a little money by our 
misfortunes, and he now begins to talk of buying a 
young slave for a wife, and what not, to attend him 
on the road. But no sailor, who sails the waters of 
the world through and through, and has a lass at 
every port, manages matters so well as the tra- 
velling Moorish merchant. This Moor has his com- 
fortable home in every large city of the interior of 
Africa, and no one inquires whether he exceeds the 
number fixed by the law of tne Prophet or not. 
Indeed, no one knows now many wives he has, or 
where they are. 
Ferajee, of the escort, had a particular salutation, 
by which he used always to address me. It continues 
to be repeated by some of our people : " Othrub 
Gonsul ! Fire off the gun, O Consul ! Othrub 
