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46 TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. CHAP. I. 
skins, and is fit for use. In the interior it sells at about a shilling 
a pound ; but at Tripoh it is much cheaper. It is put into almost 
every article of food by the Arabs, and though not very savoury, 
we soon became accustomed to its taste. It is called Shahm 
From the wool of their sheep, the women make strong bar- 
racans, carpets, shirts, turbans, and many ornaments. Their tents 
too are made of wool and goats' hair, as are also sacks, which are 
used to carry corn and merchandize on the camels. Mats and 
ornaments of palm leaves or grass are neatly made. 1'heir dyes 
are generally brilliant ; black, blue, red, and orange ; in fact, every 
colour excepting green, which they find much difficulty in pro- 
ducing ; though at Tripoli the dyers succeed very well in it. The 
looms of the Arab women are on the ground ; they have no shuttles, 
but with much trouble pass the threads through with their fingers, 
generally lightening their labour with songs. The men seldom 
work while in their tents, and their time seems to hang much heavier 
on their hands than that of the women, who with cooking and other 
domestic employments are generally pretty well occupied. No 
woman eats in the presence of a man, and wives always wait on 
their husbands. 
The domestic animals consist of poultry, sheep, goats, camels, 
horses, and dogs : they all live under the same canopy as their 
masters, and are on good terms amongst themselves. The horses 
are perfectly quiet, being brought up with the children of the 
family. They would be a fine race, but that the want of good 
food prevents their acquiring a handsome appearance ; add to 
which, the ambition of possessing well fed and comely animals does 
not now exist ; for should any of the Bashaw's people wish to 
appropriate a fine horse, the owner dares not refuse to sell him, 
at whatever low price may be offered. Still, however, many of the 
Arabs breed them expressly for the market, bringing them while 
