FAREWELL TO THE SARKEE. 
285 
I went to take leave of the Sarkee. His high- 
ness had nothing to say, and we as little to him. 
We just shook hands, and that was all. He is not 
very well pleased with his late man-hunt. He still 
owes twenty thousand dollars, which it will require 
a dozen such speculations to pay off. The castle 
outside was besieged with soldiers, all lounging and 
listening to two or three drummers. I am disgusted 
to see so many idle people. The only novelty was 
four or five singing- women, who sung choruses 
inside the walls to a drummer. All the soldiers in 
undress, or not going on razzia, are bareheaded, and 
also nearly all the inhabitants of the town. A few 
persons, mostly women, wear a piece of blue cotton 
cloth over their heads, tied tight, so as to have the 
appearance of a cap. The common sort of women 
go with their breasts bare ; others, of higher rank, 
drag up their skirts to cover their breasts ; and a 
few add a piece of cotton cloth, which they throw 
over their shoulders like a shawl. 
The Sarkee has presented Yusuf with a horse, 
blind with one eye, and not much bigger than a jack- 
ass, in return for the present Yusuf made to him. In 
fact, this potentate is now as poor as a rat, and has 
nothing to give away. When he has anything, he 
soon parts with it, being generous to prodigality. 
The title Sarkee is used for men of inferior rank, 
and is something like Bey. 
I waited till three o'clock, p.m., for my servants, 
and Said of Haj Beshir, to come and bring the oxen 
