24 
INDELICATE DANCES. 
out by their sensual habits and indulgence with innu- 
merable concubines. These young women are thus 
left, though married, like so many widows, without 
education or religious motives, and with all their 
passions alive, to the first opportunity which presents 
itself. We know what they do, and we cannot ex- 
pect anything else from them. 
We have often dancing now of evenings. Yes- 
es o 
terday, hearing the tambourines and other instru- 
ments strike up, I went to the house of the Sfaxee to 
see what was going on. They were dancing again 
their Mourzuk dances before a number of delighted 
Kailouees, male and female; amongst the rest Lady 
En-Noor herself. The whole beauty and appro- 
priateness of this exercise amongst the Moors con- 
sists, as is well known, in gross imitations of natural 
acts. No further description or comment can I 
permit myself. I have often thought that the pre- 
sent dance must be an inheritance from very ancient 
times. There seems to be a part of our nature to 
which it is adapted. The performances at Euro- 
pean Operas are often nearly as indelicate. 
Evil communications corrupt good manners. 
One of our servants has learned to act the Tuarick. 
He quarrelled with Yusuf, and on being told to go 
away replied, " Yes, I will go ; but when you get up 
to Damerghou I will bring down the people upon 
these Christians, and they shall be eaten up!" 
11th, — Zangheema, En-Noor's principal slave, 
came early this morning for Dr. Overweg, that he 
