38 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. I. 
sweet state ; but is allowed, after the butter is made, to stand until 
it tastes and smells very sour. 
In the afternoon, the country over which we passed had many 
bushes ; and at five, we came to a well, near a Maraboot's tomb, 
having made, north 43° west, twenty-four miles. The well, near which 
we were, was 288 feet in depth, and the water brackish. In the 
evening a man came to request Mj. Kitchie to take an Arab under 
his protection to Tripoh, and endeavour to procure for him the 
Bashaw's pardon, he being the only one remaining of a rebel tribe, 
which had been destroyed. The offender was in the Maraboots' 
tombs, which was considered a sanctuary ; but, on our mounting our 
horses in the morning, he was to follow us at full speed, and claim 
the protection of the British flag. 
Monday, 22d. — We waited some time for this man, and at last 
were obliged to proceed to Tripoh without him. Our road was 
over very steep and irregular sand hills. At three P. M. we 
arrived, having made, north-west, twenty miles. As I now had 
many opportunities of seeing the Arabs amongst their own tribes, 
and had greatly familiarised myself with them, I obtained some 
knowledge of their manners and customs, which I wiU endeavour 
to describe in giving an account of this extraordinary race of 
people. 
OF THE AKABS. 
The Arabs are, generally speaking, tall, straight, and well 
formed, and inclined, from their manner of hving, to be thin and 
muscular. Their countenances are expressive and handsome, their 
form of face oval, and their noses aquiline. Although naturally 
white, their complexion becomes dark from continual exposure to 
