322 
SICK PEOPLE FIRES. 
duced here, is of the most lascivious and beastly de- 
scription. This entertainment takes place every night; 
it is the great solace and delight of the people : they 
have no other amusement. They are all passionately 
fond of the drum, which certainly makes a great 
noise, and stirs them up to exhibit their dancing 
powers. 
The whole population have suddenly become 
sick, and all want Epsom salts: a camel -load 
would not suffice. One old fellow wants a medi- 
cine to enable him to get children. I tell him he 
is now old, and must be satisfied with the strength 
God has given him in his past life. 
The Sultan has made presents to our people, — 
to the Kashalla, Yusuf, and others. 
ISth. — I was so beset with people that I could 
not use my thermometer this morning. The weather 
is fresh, with the wind from the north-east. I am 
obliged to give tea as medicine : everybody now 
pretends to be sick, from the Sultan to the meanest 
slave. 
In all these villages the people burn up the 
stubble in the evening, just outside the village, on 
the dung-heaps. They like to see the flame which 
whirls up from the dirty hay or straw; but, of 
course, they make their fire at some distance, to 
prevent its catching their huts. The mortar and 
pestle have disappeared : the people use here, for 
grinding their grain, two stones, as in some places 
on the north coast. 
