INDIGO — FERAJEE. 
227 
leading on the people to the razzia, repeats the 
perpetual chorus of Jatau cJii geri — " The red 
(Sultan) eats up the country." He is afraid to 
mention the name of the Saltan, and so repeats the 
word red, as distinguishing royalty; but whether in 
the same way as purple distinguished the Roman 
emperors, or because kings delight in blood, does 
not appear. 
I went to see the process of indigo dyeing. 
The dyers bore circular pits of about fifteen or 
twenty feet deep, and three feet in diameter, in 
which they throw the things to be dyed, and leave 
them there. The pits are full of the dye, produced 
by the leaves and the seed of the plant called nila, 
sodden in water. They dye tobes and raw cotton, 
and cotton twist ; the work is carried on in the 
open air. About thirty people were employed at 
the pits which I saw. They also prepare indigo in 
a better way than what I saw at these pits. 
23c?. — I have not quite done with the Tuaricks, 
and had many visitors of that tribe to-day ; amongst 
the rest, our old friends and robbers, Ferajee and 
Deedee. I told Ferajee I had my boxes full of gold 
and silver, and asked him to buy. He replied, 
" Ah, el-Consul did not say so in Asben ; he said 
babo (there is none) !" At this, all our visitors burst 
out in a roaring laugh. I rejoined, " Oh, no, 
Ferajee; because I was then amongst thieves and 
robbers." (Continued laughter.) I went to see 
